DOWNTOWN CHIROPRACTIC and ORTHOTIC CENTER
Located near Las Olas in the heart of Victoria Park, Fort Lauderdale.
At the DOWNTOWN CHIROPRACTIC and ORTHOTIC CENTER, we recognize that every patient’s condition is unique, with different health needs. We pride ourselves on identifying and satisfying these needs.
Published Articles by Dr. Glen Bobker
Ice or heat? Ask your doc
Each method of treatment has its benefits – and risks.
Ice therapy has a localized anti-inflammatory effect, which means it slows and decreases the flow of blood in the area of pain and where the cold treatment is applied.
Heat therapy does the opposite; it increases blood flow in the pain area, encouraging inflammation.
So when do you want more blood flowing and when do you want less?
If an injury or musculo-skeletal pain is new or fresh, as in the case of sprains and strains, more blood already is flowing to the affected area, a naturally occurring inflammation that needs to be reduced. Thus, ice therapy is best.
Heat therapy works best for old, dull and chronic pain, such as those caused by non-inflammatory degenerative arthritis/osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, muscle spasm/tightness, and old injuries. Those injuries are best soothed by increasing blood flow to the affected area.
If you're still unsure whether to use cold or hot treatment, I contend that when it comes to the home treatment of most musculoskeletal pain/injury , ice therapy should be applied first.
While ice may not always help, it will not harm. By contrast, with heat therapy, there's risk. If heat is erroneously applied to a new injury, for instance, that will cause excessive inflammation (tissue congestion) and impede the healing process or cause even greater damage or harm.
Both therapies are available in soft-gel packs, easily applied to the body.
Soft gel-packs, in a variety of sizes, can be stored in the freezer for immediately available ice therapy. (I often recommend that patients keep a bag of frozen peas the fridge; that works just as well.)
Most gel packs on the market also are microwavable (follow the instructions closely!) making them ideal for quick heat therapy.
Never apply the ice or heat directly to the skin. Instead, use a thin insulating dish towel, T-shirt or cloth to avoid direct skin contact.
Both therapies work best when compressed against the area of pain or injury.
For low back application, I recommend the patient lie on his or her side with the knees slightly bent (fetal position), with one pillow supporting the neck and another between the knees and the pack belted or tied to the back. For either ice or heat therapy, application time is 15-20 minutes with 2 hour intervals between applications. That's 20 minutes of treatment every two hours.
During an ice treatment, you can expect, obviously, a feeling of cold, which may be followed by sensations of burning, achy pain, then numbness. With heat treatment, take extra care to avoid burns.
Whether ice or heat, never leave a compress in place for more than 20 minutes.
Neither ice nor heat therapies should be used:
in the region of nerve damage (i.e. peripheral / diabetic neuropathy)
in the region of impaired circulation (i.e. peripheral vascular disease, deep vein thrombosis, blood clots, and arterial sclerosis)
over open wounds
by anyone with hypersensitivity to cold or heat
in the area of a malignancy
Dr. Glen Bobker, a Chiropractic Physician, is in private practice at the Downtown Chiropractic & Orthotic Center,1601 E. Broward Boulevard, (954) 463 -1166.
www.ftlaudchiro.com
