Nobody likes to put ice on his or her body; it’s shocking and uncomfortable. However, ice therapy or cryotherapy is a vitally important modality in the immediate treatment and rehabilitation of acute soft-tissue injuries.
Unfortunately, there are many people who still are using heat treatment instead.
As quickly as possible after injury, ice is necessary to stop the bleeding, decrease pain and decrease muscle spasm. The results of recent research also strongly urge the use of compression to lower the tissue temperature more effectively in an acute injury. Treatments should be no longer than 30 minutes, 40 minutes for larger muscles. Treatments should be at least two hours apart.
To prevent injuries and improve recovery, be sure to take care of those tissues. Daily maintenance, including soft tissue work such as foam rolling will keep you healthy and moving like a supple leopard.