Heat Therapy & Cold Therapy - About

Here is an easy to follow guide to help you understand the what, how, when and why of heat and cold therapy.

Heat Therapy

What is it?

Heat increases blood flow to the affected area providing oxygen and nutrients to aid the healing process and help restore movement.

How do I apply?

Heat should be applied to the affected area where pain is felt to provide effective, targeted relief.

When should I use?

✔ Back Pain
✔ Muscular Pain & Muscle Injury Rehab
✔ Joint Stiffness
✔ Before exercise to help warm-up and loosen tight muscles
✔ After exercise (to aid warm-down, if no injuries)

Why use it?

✔ Penetrating heat helps relax stiff, sore, aching muscles and joints.
✔ Effective, targeted, warming pain relief.
✔ Aid muscle healing and help restore movement.
✔ Help recovery and injury rehab by applying a heat product after having performed Cold Therapy for approximately 72 hours (post injury).
✔ Aids muscle warm-up and may prevent injury when applied before exercise.

 

Cold Therapy

What is it?

When cooling is applied it causes blood vessels to constrict. This can help minimise damage and thereby reduce the amount of repair required.

How do I apply?

Cooling should be applied to the affected areas immediately after injury when pain is felt. Treatment should continue until all swelling has subsided (can take up to 72 hours).

When should I use?

✔ Immediately after Injury
✔ Sprains, strains, after injury
✔ Sharp, shooting muscle pain
✔ Swelling & Inflammation

Why use it?

✔ Effective, targeted cooling pain relief.
✔ Can aid tissue recovery after trauma, provide pain relief by decreased nerve conduction, and decreased swelling by contraction of blood vessels.
✔ Helps alleviate the pain associated with Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) which can occur 24-48 hours after exercise, when muscles have been strained.