ICE OR HEAT FOLLOWING INJURY

Arlington Heights Chiropractor defines Ice or Heat use following injury 

by Kevin O'Hara D.C.

Just a quick note from your Arlington Heights Chiropractor, on whether you should use Ice or Heat after low back pain or neck pain set in. The general rule is simple, when you understand it you won't be confused again.  Injury usually brings blood or swelling to the injured area of your back pain or neck pain. This is call edema. Now you must take into consideration that muscle movement helps move blood through your body back to your heart to push it through again. After an injury the muscles surrounding the area want to brace the injured area and they do this by spasm and decreased range of motion. They do this so you won't hurt your injured back or neck any further. Now add heat.  This bring blood to the area. So a swollen area now has more blood flowing to it making it more swollen. Ouch! Add in the fact that the muscles in the area don't want to move like they are supposed to so now you have more blood on top of your already swollen neck or back adding to your sciatic pain, low back pain or lower neck pain. "Heat Brings Blood" , swelling and more pain and stiffness. Ice on the other hand slows the inflammation process. Unless of course you keep in on the injured area for more than 20 minutes. Then of course your body thinks you are freezing and sends more blood to the frozen area. So the trick is to out smart the inflammation process. Ice for 2-3 days while your acute (20 minutes on, 40 minutes off) , or recently injured. Heat if it is chronic, two weeks or more (20 minutes on, 40 minutes off). Visit www.oharachiro.com for more information and I'll see you in the office. If you have a question you would like answered just post it. I'll do my best. 

In Health,

 Dr.Kevin