Heat or ice after chiropractic adjustment

Some localised tenderness may be noticed, especially if you were in pain prior to your adjustment. This is a normal reaction by the muscle and surrounding soft tissue.

Apply an ice pack that is wrapped in a cloth or paper towel to the area that the chiropractor has suggested for 15 minutes. Remove for 1 hour. (Any more than this and you run the risk of frostbite!)

Repeat this procedure as needed to help reduce pain and swelling. Lie on your side to ice; try to avoid sitting on an ice pack while icing your low back

 Try to stay gently mobile as much as possible. Walking (or crawling) induces motion, which is good. When sitting try to do so in a straight backed chair. (Avoid recliners and couches.)

 Do not use heat (which increases swelling) near the spine. Avoid smoking (which interferes with healing). Do not carry large purses or carry your wallet in your back pocket. (These can alter biomechanics of your lower back.)

Drink large amounts of water. This will help flush toxins from your body and help your body to heal. Eat vegetables and fruits – these also help the healing process. Avoid alcohol (this will increase the swelling).

You’re working in your garden or around the house when you feel something “pull” in your back. “It’s probably just a muscle pain,” you think and you go for all the things that will add some heat to those muscles.

You might try a long, hot bath or applying a heating pad or ointments that cause the muscles to increase in temperature.

At the same time, you try taking over-the-counter medications to alleviate the pain and inflammation.

This is the typical scenario of a patient that enters our office complaining of severe neck or back pain.

Something that started as “no big deal” a few days ago has been growing increasingly worse with the application of heat.

Strangely enough, it’s while the heat is applied that they actually feel their best. It is often the only time that the symptoms seem to subside at all. However, when dealing with the spine, you also have to take into consideration the spinal discs. The discs will respond to heat by swelling, which will only increase the pain.

Muscles do respond favorably to heat, giving that “aaaahhhh” feeling. When most patients apply ice, they don’t get that feeling so they assume it’s the wrong choice. The application of ice for about 15 minutes may not create immediate relief, but once the ice is removed, most patients will report a decrease in pain and soreness.

In nearly ever case, we will recommend ice over heat when dealing with neck and back pain. A simple test is to feel for heat over the painful area using the back of your hand. If you feel heat (or at least an increase in temperature) over that area, you don’t need more heat.

If taking an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory helps, realize that this is taking away the heat and that’s one of the reasons it helped. Adding more heat back in is just counterproductive. You almost can’t go wrong with ice, either.

The only way we see ice negatively affect patients is by using too much. When using ice, it’s important to give your skin some protection and a bit of a rest. You can use ice for 10 – 20 minutes depending on how much muscle is in the area. For example, the neck would be 10 minutes while the lower back would be 20 minutes.

Once you’ve applied the ice therapy (cryotherapy) to the area, you need to give your body a chance to rest for the rest of the hour. Applying ice pack after ice pack without that break can cause skin damage similar to frostbite.

For this same reason, it’s usually better to put a thin layer of cloth (like a towel or a t-shirt) between your skin and the ice pack. Applying the ice pack directly to the skin could be detrimental. For most people, this isn’t comfortable anyway, so this doesn’t tend to be a problem.

If you have any questions about which home therapy you should be doing for yourself, please check with your chiropractor. They will have a much better understanding of your problem and which modality will work best for you.

Chiropractic care is an excellent treatment for a variety of injuries, but what do you do immediately after an injury? Some people reach straight for the ice pack while others grab the heating pad. Some even do both, which can potentially further aggravate your injury. Here’s what you need to know about ice and heat therapy.

Chill Out

For injuries and inflammation, ice is usually the better choice. The cold temperature will restrict blood flow and reduce inflammation and swelling. Any time you suffer a strain, sprain, or bruising, head to the freezer and get the ice pack.

There are two different ways to use ice to treat an injury:

• Immediately: this will prevent the injured area from becoming stiff by reducing tissue fluid

• Rehabilitation: massage therapists, physical therapists, and chiropractors will use cold therapy to reduce spasms and pain to allow for improved mobility

If you have cardiovascular disease or poor circulation, consult your primary physician before resorting to ice therapy. You also need to be mindful of how long you are using an ice pack, as you can experience tissue, skin, or nerve damage if left on for too long.

Feel The Heat

Heat is great for relaxation. While ice restricts the blood vessels, heat does the opposite and opens them up which increases blood flow to the injured area. This is ideal for most aches and pains and typically good for repairing damaged tissue as increased blood flow stimulates healing. 15-20 minutes of heat therapy is usually all it takes to relieve minor tension and stiffness.

Just as you have to pay attention to the time with ice therapy, the same goes for heat therapy. It may seem obvious to be careful not to burn yourself, but it happens more than you think! If you have any bruising or swelling, avoid heat therapy and do not use heat near open wounds. If you suffer from hypertension or heart disease, ask your primary physician before using heat treatment.

The Ultimate Treatment

When it comes to injuries caused by physical activity, ice and heat therapy are both extremely beneficial, but they aren’t long-term solutions. A healthy musculoskeletal system is critical to healing and overall health and positively impacts how the body functions. Regular chiropractic adjustments help reduce pain and tension by utilizing the body’s natural healing process. Choose chiropractic as your first line of defense against injuries and click here to contact your local Saginaw, MI chiropractor today.

Is heat OK after chiropractic adjustment?

Is it good to ice after chiropractic adjustment?

What should I do immediately after chiropractic adjustment?

What should you not do after chiropractic adjustment?