HOT OR COLD THERAPY: WHAT’S BEST FOR MUSCLE RECOVERY?

1
HOT OR COLD THERAPY WHATS BEST FOR MUSCLE
RECOVERY?
2
Hot cold therapy is often recommended to treat
sore muscles. When used together, cold therapy
reduces inflammation in the muscles and hot
therapy boosts blood flow to the affected region,
aiding in a quick recovery. Overworked muscles
can suffer damage due to wear and tear over time
if neglected. As such, you should take good care
of your muscles and treat any discomfort or pain
as soon as possible. Hot or/and cold therapies
have been advocated as the best methods for
treating muscle-related injuries. Lets take a
look at which one of these proves to be more
efficient for muscle recovery. Hot Therapy
Treatments
3
Hot Cold Therapy refers to treatments stretching
over two ends of a broad spectrum. Heat therapy
has been associated with relaxation in most
cases. This is why many individuals prefer to
soak in a bath of warm water to alleviate the
pain and discomfort caused by sore muscles. Heat
therapy is known to have many advantages like
relaxing sore muscles after a workout.
Accordingly, while ice therapy helps to reduce
the inflammation in the injured areas, heat
therapy dilates the blood vessels and promotes
increased blood flow to the affected area, thus
aiding in quick recovery. One thing to note here
is that heat therapy comes in two forms, moist
heat therapy (warm baths) and dry heat therapy
(heating pads). If you opt for the latter, you
may have to hydrate your body in advance because
the heat from the heating pad can dehydrate your
skin. Another thing to note is that heat therapy
may not be recommended for open wounds and acute
injuries. In these cases, the hot-cold therapy
treatment involves treating the affected area
with ice packs for the first few days and
following it up with heat therapy treatment after
the inflammation reduces to an extent. Cold
Therapy Treatments
4

Cold therapy, aka Cryotherapy, involves
treating injuries and inflammation with ice. The
ice used may be in the form of a simple ice pack
or ice path to a more complex cooling procedure
using nitrogen chambers. Cryotherapy using
nitrogen chambers is becoming a sought-after
treatment option today by athletes who want to
return to the field after an injury.
5
The cold therapy treatment from the hot cold
therapy comes with its share of advantages too.
For instance, cold therapy has been shown to
reduce inflammation in the muscles and joints.
While inflammation is common during training and
exercises, too much exercise can lead to injuries
as well. Ice therapy can treat such inflammations
and injuries within a short span, thus allowing
the affected area to heal completely before
suffering more serious damage. Cold therapy can
also treat acute injuries like sprains with ease.
In addition to reducing the pain and inflammation
caused by the injury, the application of ice
packs on the affected area daily can help speed
up the recovery process. As in the case of heat
therapy, there are a few things to be noted about
cold therapy as well. For instance, while cold
therapy is considered safe for everyone, not
every kind of cold therapy is safe. For instance,
cryotherapy treatment using nitrogen chambers is
not recommended for individuals suffering from
heart disease and autoimmune conditions. It is
also not recommended for pregnant women and
children. Be it hot or cold therapy, one must
understand what kind of injuries can be treated
by hot cold therapy. Understanding when and where
to use hot and/or cold therapy for injuries and
inflammation can prove to be beneficial for the
muscles in the long run. Article
Resource-https//axizz.com/hot-or-cold-therapy-wh
ats-best-for-muscle-recovery/