Do you know the difference between hot and cold compresses?
Health Glossary.
◙Doctor Durga Shankar Dillan.
Senior Eye Replacement and Audio Surgeon Kota
Heart Institute Kota
Cold and hot compresses are beneficial in pain or swelling of joints and muscles. But in which creation and in which pain, which concoction is effective. understand it
Sometimes it is advised to compress with a heat or cold bag to reduce pain or swelling in the muscles or joints of the body. The work of both of these i.e. heat and cold bags is to remove the problem, but very few people know which one to use and when not. First know the difference between them.
The work of a heat bag For pain in the muscles or joints, the blood circulation of that place increases when the heat is applied with the bag. Due to the good circulation of blood in the affected area, there will be sufficient amount of blood to the tissue and the pain will be reduced a little.
Along with this the muscles will also become soft. There are two types of heat therapy ... dry heat and moisture heat dry heat such as heating a cloth and soaking it or heating pad moisture heat - soaking a cloth in hot water and soaking it. Moisture heat is more effective. Because it quickly goes deep inside the tissue. This can give good results in less time. Steam can be used directly such as in a steam bath.
Working of a cold bag: On compressing with a cold bag, the blood vessels carrying blood to the affected area will constrict, which will reduce the blood circulation there slightly. If there is any disease or inflammation at that place, the swelling will subside due to reduced blood circulation.
When and how to compress
Cold compress
• If there is a fresh injury, swelling or the leg is twisted and 'sprained', then a cold bag will be used. In this situation, do not irrigate with a hot bag before 48-72 hours. On applying hot compress, the swelling and pain will increase at that place.
• If there is a sprain or injury in the leg due to running, playing, exercising or falling, then irrigate with a cold bag for 2-3 days. Only soak for 5-10 minutes at a time and do it in rotation.
• If there is swelling in any part of the body and there is an injury to the skin with swelling, such as a rubbed or a wound, then do not apply ice directly to such a place. Irrigate around the wound. Instead of using ice directly for irrigation, irrigate with an ice bag or irrigate by pouring ice in two polythene.
• If there is swelling during exercise, it is recommended to apply ice compresses
• Avoid hot compresses in case of tendonitis (the tissue that connects the muscles to the bones) as it can increase the pain. Cold compress should be done here.
Hot compress
• If there is chronic pain in the joints or muscle pain or stiffness, then it is advisable to compress with a hot bag.
• If there is an injury and there is swelling for a long time. Or if there is pain for a long time at the place of injury, there is stiffness or pain in the muscles, then you can compress it with a hot bag.
• In the pain of the ankles, soak warm water.
• Coccydynia ie the pain and discomfort caused by injury to the bone of the anus can be done with hot water. Can not be soaked directly, so use lukewarm water.
• After surgery or operation, doctors recommend hot compresses for chronic pain or muscle stiffness.
• If there is only chronic pain, not exercising but still there is pain, stiffness and no swelling, then a warm compress is still recommended.
• While soaking hot water, just put the affected area in water for 10-15 minutes and then remove it. After a few minutes, pour water again on the affected area.
