Icing an injury how many days

Plus, many people make mistakes when using this cold treatment method. We'll go over a few of these mistakes, but first, what are some reasons you may want to consider using ice? The most common reason to use ice on a sports injury is to reduce pain and swelling to the injured soft tissues.

For decades, the traditional first aid treatment for an injury was the acronym R. The protocol has since been updated to P. While ice has been shown to greatly reduce swelling and pain immediately after an acute injury, in some cases, reducing inflammation may actually hinder healing, so it's important to use ice the right way.

Ice packs should be applied to the injured area as soon as possible. They should then be reapplied three or more times per day for the first few days, for 10 to 20 minutes at a time. Although ice can be helpful, it's always beneficial to consult with your doctor when injured. Follow their medical advice for treating your specific injury, allowing for the best and fastest recovery possible.

This treatment strategy is mainly used to help reduce the pain and swelling that occurs with some injuries. However, icing an injury isn't not always the best choice because, in some cases, using ice can delay injury healing. Talking to your doctor can help determine whether ice is appropriate and can be used to enhance the healing process. Ice is generally most effective when the injury is acute or happened in the recent past.

If the injury is longer term more than six weeks old or more chronic in nature, heat might work better instead. Here are common mistakes people make when icing an injury. Leaving ice on an injury for too long can cause more harm than good. Because ice constricts the blood vessels, it can reduce the blood flow to the injured area and slow the healing process. The ideal time to ice an injury is immediately after the trauma, and then only for about 10 minutes at a time waiting another 10 minutes at least between applications.

It's important to allow the tissues to 'warm up' again before returning ice to the injury. Ice should not be needed after the first 24 hours unless your doctor recommends it to reduce active swelling or to relieve pain. Done incorrectly, ice may cause frostbite and damage to the delicate tissues of the skin. While exposure to cold can ease pain and swelling, ice packs can also stop blood flow if left on the skin too long. If the injury is in an area with little fat or muscle beneath the skin, such as fingers, take the compress off after 5 to 10 minutes maximum, wait 10 minutes, and reapply.

There are a few additional things you can along with icing an injured area. Here are some options to consider. Icing alone is not a cure-all and therefore, even if you follow the recommendations for safe icing of an injury, you must also rest the injured joint immediately after the injury occurs.

It is recommended to not bear weight on an injured joint for the first 24 to 48 hours. Sports and Fitness Illness and Injury Orthopaedics. Reviewed By Micah J. Ryan, M. Doing both while in recovery and upcoming participation may help avoid injury in the future. Icing an injury typically takes place immediately after the injury occurs.

Using a cold compress or ice pack on a strained muscle can decrease inflammation and numb pain in the area. Icing is effective at reducing pain and swelling because the cold constricts blood vessels and decreases circulation to the area. For example, if an athlete rolls an ankle in a volleyball match an immediate application of ice will cut down on long-term swelling and potentially lessen recovery time.

Ice injuries for 20 minutes at a time, with 20 minute breaks in between sessions. There is no long-term timeline for icing. Applying an ice pack early and often for the first 48 hours will help minimize swelling, and decreasing swelling around an injury will help to control the pain. Ice treatments may also be used for chronic conditions, such as overuse injuries in athletes.

In this case, ice the injured area after activity to help control inflammation. Never ice a chronic injury before activity. You can make ice packs with ice cubes in a plastic bag or wet tea towel; a pack of frozen peas is also ideal and can go in and out of the freezer. Never place ice directly on an injury; keep the pack moving to avoid ice burns.

Never treat with ice for more than 30 minutes, and remove the pack immediately if the injury appears bright pink or red. Heat treatments should be used for chronic conditions to help relax and loosen tissues and to stimulate blood flow to the area.

This soothing effect occurs because heat also stimulates circulation and increases tissue elasticity, providing pain relief. Heat therapy is generally not to be used after activity. A hot bath or shower may also relieve pain. Using minute increments is typically most effective. With sub-specialty training in treating shoulders, knees, foot and ankle problems, the spine and a host of sports injuries, our physical therapists are experts in their field.

They work with our physicians to rehabilitate patients, helping them move past mobility and pain limitations. Merck — Treatment of Pain and Inflammation. Team Physicians for the Portland Trail Blazers.