Orthopedics Sprains & Strains Is Ice or Heat Better for Treating an Injury? Appropriately treating acute or chronic injuries By Jonathan Cluett, MD Jonathan Cluett, MD LinkedIn Twitter Jonathan Cluett, MD, is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with subspecialty training in sports medicine and arthroscopic surgery. Learn about our editorial process Updated on September 12, 2022 Medically reviewed by Laura Campedelli, PT, DPT Medically reviewed by Laura Campedelli, PT, DPT LinkedIn Laura Campedelli, PT, DPT, is a physical therapist currently working in New York at Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital, an affiliate of New York Presbyterian. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Ice Treatment How to Ice Heat Treatment How to Heat Ice packs and heating pads are both commonly used to treat orthopedic injuries, but people are often confused about which one to use. Moreover, there is often uncertainty about how to use them safely and whether they may cause more harm than good. Joseph De Sciose / Getty Images Ice Treatment Ice treatment is most commonly used for acute injuries to reduce swelling, pain, and inflammation. Inflammation is the body's natural response to an injury or infection. Blood vessels and tissues swell so immune cells can get closer to the damage. While vital to healing, inflammation left uncontrolled may cause extreme pain and disability. If you have experienced a physical injury within the past 48 hours, an ice pack can help minimize swelling, reduce bleeding within tissues, and alleviate muscle spasms and pain. Ice treatments may also be used to routinely treat chronic conditions, including overuse injuries in athletes (such as tendinitis, tendinosis, or bursitis). The pack would be applied immediately after physical activity to preemptively treat inflammation. Arthritis, migraine headaches, and trigeminal neuralgia are just some of the chronic disorders that may benefit from ice application. How to Safely Ice an Injury Ice packs are commercially available as freezable gel packs. You can also make them with ice cubes in a plastic bag or tea towel. A pack of frozen peas is also a good option. To safely ice an injury: Never place ice directly on the skin. Always use a cloth barrier like a thin bath towel. Keep the ice pack moving to avoid frostbite. Never keep it in one place for more than a couple of minutes. Never ice an injury for more than 15 to 20 minutes. It is better to ice an injury several times a day than all at once. Remove the pack if you experience prickly pain or the skin appears bright pink or red. Do not use an ice pack on the left shoulder if you have a heart condition. How to Ice Your Injury the Right Way Heat Treatment Heat treatment is used to treat chronic conditions. It helps to relax tissues and stimulates blood flow to the affected joint or muscle. Heat is typically used to treat overuse injury before an action is performed. Heat can be an effective form of pain relief if muscle tension is the cause. Heating can help relax tissues and loosen stiff joints, making it appropriate for musculoskeletal conditions such as arthritis and old muscle strains. Steamed towels or moist heating pads may intensify the penetration of heat into the muscles. Some people find that that moist heat provides better pain relief than dry heat. Using Heat for Pain Treatment How to Safely Heat an Injury Heat application can be accomplished with an electric heating pad or even a heated towel removed from the dryer. If using an electric pad, choose one with a temperature control to prevent overheating and burns. There are even microwaveable bags filled with wheat, rice, or other natural or synthetic ingredients. Use these with caution, however, as they can cause burns if overheated. Wheat bags especially have been known to catch fire. To use heat application safely: Do not use heat treatments after activity.Do not use heat to treat an acute injury.Always use moderate heat. The heat should never cause sweating or discomfort.Do not heat a towel with boiling or scalding water.Never use heat where there is swelling of any kind.Never use heat on broken or damaged skin.Never use heat for extended periods of time or while sleeping. Ice Heat When to Use Use ice after an acute injury. Use ice after activity if you have a chronic condition that is prone to inflammation. Use heat before activities to loosen muscles and joints and relax injured tissue. How to Use Place the ice pack on a cloth barrier between the pack and skin, moving the pack continually. Apply directly to the injured joint or muscle, taking care not to overheat the skin. Treatment Duration Apply for no longer than 20 minutes at a time. Try to limit use to 20 minutes at a time. Never apply heat while sleeping. When Not to Use Never apply ice to a chronic injury before activity. Never use heat on an acute injury or broken skin. 2 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. van den Bekerom MP, Struijs PA, Blankevoort L, Welling L, van Dijk CN, Kerkhoffs GM. What is the evidence for rest, ice, compression, and elevation therapy in the treatment of ankle sprains in adults?. J Athl Train. 2012;47(4):435–443. doi:10.4085/1062-6050-47.4.14 Malanga GA, Yan N, Stark J. Mechanisms and efficacy of heat and cold therapies for musculoskeletal injury. Postgrad Med. 2015;127(1):57-65. doi:10.1080/00325481.2015.992719 Additional Reading Dehghan M, Farahbod F. The efficacy of thermotherapy and cryotherapy on pain relief in patients with acute low back pain, a clinical trial study. J Clin Diagn Res. 2014;8(9):LC01-LC04. doi:10.7860/JCDR/2014/7404.4818 By Jonathan Cluett, MD Jonathan Cluett, MD, is board-certified in orthopedic surgery. He served as assistant team physician to Chivas USA (Major League Soccer) and the United States men's and women's national soccer teams. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies