Knowing whether to use heat therapy or cold therapy to reduce arthritis pain and stiffness of the joints is the type of arthritis and the type of pain you have. Since everyone experiences and responds to pain differently, it is important to discuss a pain management plan with your doctor. You may need to try some things to see what works.
When used to treat pain from arthritis to Ice
According to Dr. Kevin Sperber, Board Certified Pain Management Specialist at ColumbiaUniversity,
"As a general rule is that the ice is better for soft tissue injuries such as bruises, sprains or acute trauma. Cryotherapy may also be useful if there is an exacerbation of pain after activity. Cold acts as an analgesic to numb the painful area and can also drastically reduce swelling and pain. "
Traditionally, doctors recommend ice packs to be used only for 10-20 minutes at a time. But beware! With prolonged use of the cold could be injured,especially if you have sensory problems, or impaired blood circulation in your hands and feet.
When to use heat to treat pain from arthritis
Doctors and therapists recommend warm more often than cold treatment to relieve arthritis pain because it relaxes sore tendons and ligaments, increases flexibility and decreases pain. The heat also increases blood circulation and improve joint mobility.
So why the debate over hot or cold? Dr. Sperber says that for acute injuries (sprains,Tribes, and so on) almost all recommended ice, but for chronic diseases like arthritis, cold and heat can help reduce inflammation, so it can come to what feels best.
That, as the heat must be used, there are competition problems. The trick is to get enough heat in the tissue long enough without burning the skin. For example, warm your hands quite easily, because the fabric is not "deep", but also for deep-tissue pain in his side, for example, may need to uselow temperature for a longer time. There are special products, to solve these problems and every product comes with the policies recommended time use.
Cryotherapy most popular products:
* Gel frozen cold packs. Save your frozen peas and a flexible, "ice pack" instead of re-usable. ColPaC makes them in many sizes and shapes. Keep ice packs in the freezer, and will be willing to if you have a flare-up. Remember, dry layers of foam between the pack and use coldYour skin.
* Biofreeze. This topical analgesic is highly recommended for the temporary relief of arthritis, tendinitis and fybromyalgia. You can order it in a pump tube, roll-on, spray or gel.
Most popular products hot therapy:
* Whirlpool Spa or Hot Tub. For most arthritis patients is the ultimate hydrotherapy, heat therapy. For a fraction of the cost of installing a permanent spa you can use a portable, inflatable hot tub that goes anywhere - indoors, outdoors, onYour patio, deck, RV, condo or apartment. We propose that the Spa2Go or Spa-NA-Box. Both are easy to assemble (20 minutes) and without special wiring or plumbing is required.
* Infrared Heat. Sometimes deep penetrating heat is just what you need to reduce arthritis pain. The Thermotex Infrared Heating Pad TTS Platinum model is the most popular model, although there are other treatment Thermotex systems are available. The TTS Platinum is a nice portable size (17 "x 15") and has adjustable strapsyou can do it comfortably almost anywhere on the body.
* Light Relief Light Therapy. The handset features to increase the current heating and / or maintain the temperature of the tissue, where it is. My grandmother used to relieve joint pain and she loves it. It can also help dogs.
* Paraffin wax. Dip your hands, feet or elbows in melted paraffin and allow to heat through your arthritic joint stiffness for fast acting, drug-free therapy to spread. The most popularTherabath PRO Paraffin Bath is the market. This device is large enough to keep your hands, feet or elbows, but small enough to fit on the counter to accommodate. It includes hospital grade paraffin wax with your choice of fragrances.
* Moist heat. Arthritic pain and rheumatism are often relieved with moist heat. The moist heat increases blood flow, soothes inflamed joints and increases flexibility. Take a look at digital electric moist heat pad THERATHERM automatic moist heat pack that thermophore orthe new pad thermophore arthritis. There is also a hot and humid Therabeads Mitt, that you wear on your hands.
* Arthritis Gloves. These specially designed arthritis gloves provide mild compression and warmth for your hands. Some people wear them day and night. They have open fingertips so that the feel, touch and feel.
More information on hot and cold therapy treatments in one place.
