“Should I use ice or heat for my back pain?”
That’s probably one of the most common questions our London chiropractor gets asked about treating back pain.
So what’s the verdict?
Even though there are really no hard and fast rules, our chiropractor usually recommends the following:
- Use ice when an injury first occurs. It’s also important to use ice fast. To get the best results, you should get ice to the injury within 5 minutes. Carry on applying ice for the first 48-72 hours. Use it for 20 minutes, and then take it off for 20. Repeat this as often as you can.
- After 48-72 hours, when you feel any swelling has gone down and the pain-spasm cycle is broken, you can begin stretching the injured muscle with appropriate exercises recommended by your chiropractor or healthcare professional. At this point, choosing ice or heat is up to you. Most people like heat before they exercise and ice after. Either way, you’ll be helping your body to deliver red blood cells to the injured area to encourage healthy healing.
We’re here with any questions you have about managing your back pain.