Relieve pain with hot or cold?

THE’application local of heat or cold helps to relieve pains. But in which cases to use them because the desired effect is different for each: here is how to choose.

Warmth against muscle contractures

Warm is recommended in case of muscle contracturescramps aches, stiff neck, sore back. It also relieves painful periods or stomach aches.

Heat works in different ways, it provides

• a relaxing effect: it promotes muscle relaxation;
• an effect vasodilator : it increases blood flow and improves the oxygen supply in the tissues as well as the evacuation of toxins ;
• an effect analgesic : it stimulates the production of endomorphin and increases the pain threshold.

On the other hand, it is contraindicated in case ofvenous insufficiency, skin disease or inflammation.

How to apply it?

Use a pocket of gel, a hot water bottle (hot water or seeds) or a heating pad spent two minutes in the microwave and leave for 15 to 20 minutes. Be careful not to burn yourself with too hot a compress. You can also find in pharmacies heating patches to stick to the skin that diffuse heat for 4 to 8 hours: practical to keep a freedom of movement but quite expensive. Physiotherapists use light bulbs infrared whose rays penetrate the skin to bring heat to the tissues.

Cold against trauma and joint pain

Cold is recommended in case of inflammation,sprain, strain, contusion orbruises, muscle tears andosteoarthritis. It acts on several levels:

• for an analgesic effect, it slows down the speed conduction of nerve fibers;
• for an anti-inflammatory effect, it decreases the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines;
• for a edema or a hematoma, it reduces the debit blood and progression of a bruise after shock.

How to apply it?

Use a gel pack to place in the fridge or failing that, ice cubes wrapped in a towel. A bag of peas frozen foods will also do perfectly well (not to consume after use!). Warning: never apply the cold directly to the skin, otherwise burn. The cold should be maintained between 20 and 30 minutes, but not more. There are also menthol and eucalyptol sprays or gels with a refreshing effect, practical to take for a walk or jogging.

The ” cryotherapy whole body ”(CEE) consists of immersing the body in a atmosphere between -110 and -120 ° C for one to three minutes. This thermal shock would allow better recovery in great athletes thanks in particular to its anti-inflammatory effects, but also to a stimulation of the cardiovascular system and a decrease in oxidative stress.