The difference between ice and hot compress

Hot compress and ice compress are two common ways to deal with emergencies in life. Both methods can help quickly eliminate redness and swelling in the body, but the scenarios in which these two methods are used are different. Hot compress is more suitable for skin redness and swelling caused by collision, while ice compress is suitable for inflammation caused by getting angry. You need to determine whether to use hot compress or cold compress according to different situations, which is more conducive to rapid recovery of the skin.

The main purpose of ice compress is to lower the local body temperature, contract the blood vessels under the skin, reduce local blood circulation, and reduce the permeability of blood vessels, thereby achieving the effect of reducing metabolism, stopping bleeding and reducing swelling. In addition, ice compresses can also relieve muscle spasms caused by injuries and avoid secondary damage to tissue cells.

Hot compress can raise body temperature, relax blood vessels, increase local blood circulation, speed up the metabolism of the injured area, quickly discharge inflammatory substances, and enhance the self-healing ability of tissues. In addition, hot compress can also soften the body, increase the elasticity of soft tissue, reduce the chance of joint stiffness and muscle spasms, and achieve the effect of relieving pain and relaxing emotions.

Whether it is ice or hot compress, both have an analgesic effect, but if used incorrectly, it may make the injury worse or even cause new injuries. For example, if you apply ice for too long, the tissue may easily become necrotic due to frostbite; applying hot compress immediately after spraining your ankle will make the ankle more painful and swollen; if the temperature of the hot compress is too high, it will cause skin burns.

The timing of applying ice or heat is based on the actual condition of the body and cannot be calculated solely based on the time since the injury. Lin Songkai, deputy director of the Sports Medicine Center of Taiwan's Linhsin Hospital, introduced that generally speaking, ice compresses are used when there is acute inflammation or injury, while hot compresses are used when there is chronic inflammation or injury after the acute phase.

Simply put, if the sore part of the body is obviously red, swollen, hot, or painful, or if there is a clear acute sports injury, ice should be applied. When the inflamed or injured area is no longer swollen or red and hot, you can apply hot compress.

It is best not to apply ice or heat for more than 20 minutes. For areas of the body with less fat, such as ankles, knees, and elbows, the application time should be shortened and checked frequently. People with sensitive or slow sensory nerves (such as diabetes, stroke patients) and patients with abnormal blood circulation function should be extra careful when applying ice or heat. If you have open wounds or your skin is particularly sensitive to temperature, avoid applying ice or heat.

By knowing the difference between hot compress and ice compress, you can easily choose the best method for yourself after sports injuries.