What is better after an injury. ice or heat?

It's Doctor Jeffery Gerdes here, your Chiropractor. And the author of 'Getting Relief - A Consumer's Guide to Treating Neck and Back Pain at Home' and co-author of 'Understanding Whiplash'. Today I want to talk real briefly about 2 questions I get asked here in the office, should I use ice or heat after an injury?

ice or heat after an injury?

A good rule of thumb is you want to use ice in an acute injury. Acute meaning the first 72 hours or 3 days. Should you sprain your shoulder at the gym, have some type of whiplash, car accident or injury your knee playing soccer, you want to use a lot of heavy ice that first 72 hours.

Now as far as heat is concerned, heat is going to better promote the healing process in an injury that is post subacute or chronic. So something that's after 3 days or conditions that have been bothering you for quite some time. The heat is going to decrease inflammation and also increase the healing response process as well.

So that's a quick rule of reference for the utilization of ice or heat after an injury. With any other questions or if you would like to request a free copy of one of my books, please don't hesitate to contact our office.

In health,

Jeffrey Gerdes, D.C.