Skip to Content
Medical City Healthcare

Should You Use Ice or Heat for Injuries?

Find out if applying ice or heat to your injury is better for reducing inflammation and supporting the healing process.

Ice:

Ice eases inflmmation and swelling, and can numb pain

Problem: Strains, or the pulling of muscles
Solution: Ice

Problem: Sprains, or the tearing of ligaments
Solution: Ice

Problem: Tendinitis, or sever irritation in the tendons attached to the joints
Solution: Ice

Heat:

Heat eases stiff joints, achy muscles, and relieves stiffness after inflammation

Problem: Arthritis, or the loss of cartilage in the joints
Solution: Heat

Problem: Tendinosis, or chronic irritation in the tendons attached to joints
Solution: Heat