Is it better to use a cold or warm compress on sore muscles?
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A warm compress, or a long soak in a warm bath should help you quite nicely. :-)
hot (as you can take it) never cold
cold is for when you FIRST have an acute injury (like a road rash/grass burn/skin place) cold prevents the blood from rushing to the site of the injury (this is the bodies first reaction-blood carries away the toxins and provides blood for healing. sore muscles need heat to carry away the toxins and provide nutrients to the muscles
warm cuz it can relax the muscles
I ve heard try both.one time cold next time hot.
Cold compass always it make it calm down
Try cold if it hurts and then warm boarding on hot when it is simply tense (after the pain).
Also try a muscle relaxant--they include a pain killer & see a massause! Or soon you won't be able to move.
Cold compress for the first 48 hours of soreness to constrict the blood flow and reduce swelling. Warm compress after 48 hours this will help increase blood flow and help repair the damage to the muscle tissue. If you put the warm compress on the muscle before 48 hours it will make the healing process slower and you will have to deal with the pain for longer. Also stretch your neck by doing neck rolls it will help lossen the muscles. COLD FIRST WARM SECOND
When I used to hurt my arm as a pitcher, my trainers used to have my do 15 min. cold, 15 min. warm, 15 min. cold, 15 min. hot, etc.
If it is swollen at all use ice then use heat for the pain. if you have both rotate 30 minutes apart then have a xray to make sure nothin is broken and if not and there is still a knot find the time to get a deep muscle message. Not a reg. one there are a difference. Hope this helps. I am there and doing the same thing only thing i have a bone disease.I do know what i am talking about
I sprained my ankle during football and used heat- guess what I got to sit out longer becuase of it. When I tore my MCL my coach had me icing it everyday to the point of numbing it for long periods of time and it worked- wasn't too comforable though. . .
Most people respond better to warmth but for a few it causes pain.
The information below is based on headaches but the principles carry over
Massage the back, back of the neck, scratch lightly over the head. The tender spots are knots in the muscles the idea is to keep going over them periodically until they are gone. There is one other spot to hit - at the base of the skull where it connects to the spine press up and in to the count of 3 - 3 times to help relax the large group of muscles.
2 natural muscle relaxers are bananas and molasses - both contain magnisium that regulate many things in the body and potassium.
The liquids should have NO sugar - quantity = your weight divided by 2 times ounces.
Especially if this is frequent see a massage therapist.
For more information on muscles read The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook by Davies
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