3 Benefits of Using an Ice Pack for Shoulder Injuries
In today’s world, it’s easier than ever to cause injuries to your body that affect your shoulders. Whether you have an active job or active hobbies, there are plenty of things that can throw your shoulders out of alignment and take some of the strength out of them temporarily or permanently. If you’re looking for ways to quickly relieve the pain and swelling that often comes with shoulder injuries, consider using ice packs as part of your recovery process. Here are three great benefits to using ice packs for shoulder injuries.
1) Relieve shoulder pain
When you’re experiencing shoulder pain, heat therapy can be quite helpful. The heat penetrates through your muscles and relaxes them, which will reduce your pain. You can use a heating pad or soak in a hot bath or shower, but they won’t provide as much relief as using an ice pack. With ice, you help calm swelling that happens around your injury and speed up your recovery time by limiting some of your inflammation.
If you’re experiencing chronic shoulder pain, see your doctor to determine what’s causing it. Sometimes a simple issue like poor posture can cause pain that feels more serious. If you have osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, ice can provide some relief, but be sure to discuss your treatment options with your physician because surgery might be required in more severe cases.
2) Reduce inflammation
The goal of heat therapy is to reduce inflammation, which can help decrease pain and recovery time. To do so, heat your injury before or after physical activity, or use a hot or cold pack right away if you feel pain. The downside to heat is that it often increases soreness when initially applied to an injury. This typically passes within 10 minutes as long as you don’t overdo it—as with any type of physical activity! Heat can also cause swelling and tissue damage if used too frequently. Try using an ice pack at least once a day if your shoulder injury is more recent; rest, ice and compression will help relieve pain and reduce swelling, making it easier to perform daily activities without aggravating your shoulder.
3) Promote healing
Heat therapy can also be good for injuries, but ice is more helpful in reducing inflammation and promoting healing. While heat may feel soothing and relaxing, it can actually slow down recovery because it increases blood flow to your muscles, increasing swelling and preventing proper circulation. If you’re experiencing any shoulder pain from previous injury or exercise, try ice therapy icing those tense muscles instead. As with most things in life—especially medicine—there are exceptions. If you are suffering from a more significant shoulder injury (such as torn rotator cuff), heat may do more harm than good; your doctor will be able to determine what’s best based on your individual symptoms.
