Heat or Cold?

Heat treatment
The application of superficial heat to your body can improve the flexibility of your tendons and ligaments, reduce muscle spasms, alleviate pain, elevate blood flow, and boost metabolism. The mechanism by which heat relieves pain is not exactly known, although researchers believe that heat inactivates nerve fibres which can force muscles into irritating spasms, and that heat may induce the release of endorphins, powerful opiate-like chemicals which block pain transmission.

Cold treatment
Cold therapy can also reduce muscle spasms, and cold is noted for killing pain, reducing swelling, and lowering metabolic activity. Cold' s pain-killing effect is caused by its 'deadening' of nerve-cell activity; hospital studies show that patients who use cold therapy on injuries tend to require much less pain medication. This effect, though, can sometimes be counter-productive; an athlete who has 'iced down' an injured body part may get so much pain relief that he/she returns to activity too soon.

Differnce on heat and cold
Combined with compression, cold can produce dramatic drops in tissue swelling, because cold initially constricts the walls of blood vessels and compression restricts the amount of blood which can reach an injured body part (another therapeutic intervention, elevation, helps to 'drain' a damaged body region of excess fluid). Studies show that cold produces large decreases in oedema (swelling) and better reduction in discomfort, compared to heating.

Increased blood flow occurs in heated parts of the body because heat tends to relax the walls of blood vessels. That's one reason why sports doctors recommend that you steer clear of the practice of heating up already inflamed joints. Heat appears to be best for un-tightening muscles and increasing overall flexibility. Although heating can reduce muscle spasms after a back injury, heat should not be used on sprained ankles or strained muscles.

Cold decreases muscle spasms by making muscles less sensitive to being stretched, and, like heat, cold can be used to treat low-back pain. Research suggests that cold works better for individuals who have had back pain for more than 14 days, while heat may be more effective for those with more recent pain.

Check out our heat and cold packs for your helpful needs.

Return Back to Store