News — when to use heat or ice

Hot, Cold, and Compression Therapy for InjuriesCharles H. Booras, M.D.Co-Founder and Editor, Jacksonville Medical Park The modalities of hot, cold and compression have a very appropriate role in the treatment of most injuries. The immediate result of almost all injuries involving the soft tissues (muscles tendons and ligaments) includes pain, possible bleeding, and a leakage of fluid from damaged tissues into the area. Afterwards, there is a migration of white blood cells into the region of the injury. For this reason it is common to have inflammation, swelling and stiffness following an injury. The healing process requires increased blood flow into the...