No, we're not chanting for a bobslead team, and yes, it is hot here in Fredericksburg this time of year and we could all use a frozen drink... but, what we really want you to do is ICE your INJURY.
It is a common misconception that heat is the better choice, and we do admit that heat will feel better in the short term. BUT, heat will do more damage than good, especially if your injury is new or acting up.
Heat will bring more bloodflow to the injured area and this increase in temperature will increase the inflammatory reaction already happening at the site of your injury. Inflammation results in swelling and pain at the area while your body tries to "clean up" the injury... a process that sometimes goes a bit overboard.
And this is why we chant ICE ICE ICE! Ice, though not always as comfortable, will help to decrease the temperature in the area, constrict the blood vessels, and even numb away some of the pain. We recommend 15mins of ice at a time, with a 15 to 30 min break in between. You can repeat this process as much as you want! Ice is SAFE, effective, and cheap.
So remember, if you're sore, the pain is acting up, or it's the weekend and you can't get in until Monday... ICE ICE ICE!
No comments:
Post a Comment