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Which to use Hot or Cold pack?
If you have pain or muscle spasm and you don’t know what to use to relieve that pain, hot pack or cold pack, then here are the most important tips and guidelines for you.
So what is the difference between using the cold pack and hot pack?
How to use and how long should the treatment of cold or hot pack last?
When to use heat or ice and when not to use?
Cold Vs Hot packs – What’s the difference?
There are some differences between the cold Vs Hot pack. But most commonly cold packs should be used for acute orthopedic injuries (less than 48-72 hour). As it could be used for chronic injuries such as overuse injuries like sprains and strains in athletes, but in this case, you should use cold pack just after performing activities or workouts to relief pain and decrease inflammation.
For the hot pack, it most commonly used in chronic cases not for acute cases, to relieve pain and loosen soft tissues like muscles and joints. As it usually been used before performing any activity or workouts to increase blood flow and for muscle relaxation to prevent injury.
This simple video is to explain the difference between the hot pack and cold pack.
Effect of Cold pack Vs Hot pack
Cold pack (Acute injuries)
- Decrease pain
- Decrease swelling and inflammation
- Decrease blood flow and circulation
- Decrease muscle spasm if it used for a period like at least 15-30 minutes
Hot pack (Chronic injuries)
- Decrease pain
- Increase blood flow and circulation
- Muscle relaxation and decreases joint stiffness
Indications of Hot vs Cold pack
Cold pack:
- Strains like muscle or tendon tear
- Sprains like joint injuries, ligament tear
- Acute and sub-acute muscles spasm
- Chronic cases such as overuse injuries like muscle tendinitis
Hot pack:
- Chronic cases such as muscle spasm as in chronic low back pain
- Joint stiffness and arthritis
- To prevent injuries before performing activities and exercise workouts.
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How to use Hot or Cold packs?
Cold pack :
- You can use ice cubes in a well-closed plastic bag or you can use the gel ice pack from amazon after it has frozen.
- Then roll 1-2 layers of a towel over the frozen cold pack.
- Make sure the cold sensation of the ice pack is tolerated for the skin.
- If you want to treat a small not bulky area such as the fingers apply the cold pack for 3-5 minutes.
- To treat a big bulky area such as lower back or neck apply for 15-20 minutes.
Hot pack:
- You can use a hot wet towel or a rubber hot water bottle from amazon.
- Then roll 1-2 layers of a towel over the hot pack, if there is no cover attached.
- Make sure the heat sensation of the hot pack is tolerated for the skin and doesn’t cause burn from 38-42 °C.
- To treat small areas such as the fingers apply for 10 minutes.
- To treat a big area apply for 20-30 minutes.
Precautions
Cold pack
- Never apply the ice directly on the skin.
- Never treat by ice for more than 30 minutes.
- Remove the cold pack immediately if the skin appears bright pink or red.
- Don’t use a cold pack on the left shoulder if you have a heart condition.
- Don’t use a cold pack on the front of the neck.
- For elderly patients, you can use the intermittent icing technique (e.g., 10 minutes on 10 minutes off).
Hot pack:
- Never apply the heat directly on the skin.
- Do not use a hot pack after activity or after an acute injury.
- Never use over an area has a swelling or inflammation.
- Never leave heating towels or hot packs on any area for extended periods or while sleeping.
- Don’t use hot packs over a skinny area like the front of the neck or back of the knees
- Take care when applying heat over a bony prominence area.
Other precautions for hot and cold packs
Don’t apply :
- Over poor condition areas of the skin.
- Avoid applying cold or hot packs over areas of low sensation to the heat or cold.
- Over areas of the body with known poor circulation.
- If you have diabetes.
- If there is an infection.
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