Ice or heat? That’s the question…when it comes to joint pain.

Today Dr. Gill talks about whether you should use ice or heat for back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, knee pain, basically any kind of joint pain you might be having.

Speaking in general terms, ice is usually the best for acute conditions meaning the injury happened in the last 72 hours or the last three days. Those types of injuries are typically going to have a lot of inflammation which is your body’s way trying to protect itself and start the healing process. Typically, though our bodies produce too much inflammation which can be painful and actually slow down the healing process if we are not careful. So ice is usually the best thing to numb that area, cool that off, and to help get that inflammation.  and heat generally speaking is best for more chronic conditions like chronic muscle spasms and realty tight muscles. we typically use heat after the patient has been in the office for some time and and it’s been at least 3 days since the injury if not longer.

Heat is good to relax the muscles and just to make the patient feel better overall. Now there’s danger in using the wrong one at the wrong time. For example, we’ve had patients that put heat on the injury too soon after an acute injury–this will result in inflammation in that area and can cause more pain and more suffering. Now putting ice on chronic painful conditions is probably not going to have bad side effects of putting heat on an acute injury, but it may not have the benefit that you would get from putting heat on that same injury. So it’s important to use the right one at the right time.

From Acute Sports Injuries to Chronic Conditions

The knee is a complex joint that combines bones, cartilage, muscles, and connective tissues, all of which must withstand the daily stresses of supporting your weight as you move. This proposition becomes even more difficult if you play sports that require lots of running, jumping and pivoting. High-impact sports and personal injuries can pose even more danger to the knee, especially while your weight is planted on it, possibly causing acute injuries such as a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament.

But not all knee pain occurs so suddenly or dramatically. For example, runner’s knee (patellofemoral tracking syndrome) may sneak up on you, with a misaligned kneecap irritating the underlying bones to produce ever-worsening pain. This problem may even have its origins, not in a knee abnormality or injury, but in longstanding alignment problems that have thrown your stance and gait off-balance. Years of uneven weight distribution can also place the knee’s muscles and connective tissues under constant strain, creating pain and increasing your injury risk. It can even contribute to premature joint wear, causing or aggravating osteoarthritis of the knee joint.

Chiropractic Care, Physical Therapy, and Injury Rehabilitation
Fortunately, Everett Spine & Rehab has all-natural answers to many kinds of knee issues. Our chiropractic and physical rehabilitation team can identify, not just the injury itself, but also the underlying factors behind its cause. If your alignment is off, chiropractic adjustments in the spine and/or the knee itself can help restore healthy joint function and prevent strain. Physical therapy can help you rehabilitate knee tissues damaged by a sports injury or personal injury, while also strengthening the knee joint against future mishaps. We can even provide massage therapy and acupuncture to ease pain and accelerate healing without drugs.

Schedule an Appointment with your Everett Chiropractor
Don’t let knee pain get you down. You’ll find safe, effective, natural solutions to relieve, manage and prevent knee pain at Everett Spine & Rehab — and if you’re new to our clinic, the fact that you can schedule a free consultation with us will make your experience even more painless. Call (425) 347-8614 today to schedule the knee pain treatment you need!