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If you’re on bedrest due to neck pain or strain, ice is probably ideal. Heat, meanwhile, helps soothe chronic stiffness and tight muscles by improving circulation.
Whether you’ve pulled a muscle in your calf or back doing yardwork or sprained your ankle playing basketball, it’s best to start either off with ice to ease inflammation (including swelling ...
Use heat to warm up neck muscles before activity or exercise, then apply ice after to prevent soreness. Alternate 5-10 minutes of ice followed by 5-10 minutes of heat to reduce swelling after an acute neck injury.
In most cases, you can treat neck muscle pain at home using heat and ice to help reduce swelling and inflammation, as well as acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to treat pain and inflammation.
First, ease the early intense pain with rest, ice, and heat; then move on to gentle stretching and strengthening exercises. Later, avoid bad posture and other habits that could trigger another neck pain crisis.
Ice helps relieve acute injuries like pulled muscles, while heat alleviates chronic pain. You might alternate ice and heat for some problems, like back, knee, neck, and shoulder pain or headaches.
Understanding when to use heat and when to use ice can make a significant difference in alleviating discomfort and promoting healing. When to Use Heat. Heat therapy can be beneficial for neck pain caused by muscle tension, stiffness, or chronic conditions such as arthritis.
Sometimes, you may need steroid injections or even surgery to relieve neck pain. To help relieve discomfort, try these self-care tips: Ice or heat. Apply cold, such as an ice pack or ice wrapped in a towel, for up to 15 minutes several times a day during the first 48 hours. After that, use heat.
Use ice for acute injuries to reduce swelling and pain, and heat for chronic conditions to relax muscles and increase blood flow.
Heat boosts the flow of blood and nutrients to an area of the body. It often works best for morning stiffness or to warm up muscles before activity. Cold slows blood flow, reducing swelling and...