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Cold therapy has been used for relief of pain since ancient times. In recent years, it is being used in the form of ice packs, vapocoolant sprays and ice massage. It is most useful in severe musculoskeletal pain associated with sports injuries or trauma. Whenever cold stimulus (ice pack) is applied to skin, it melts and removes heat from tissues. This leads to reduced blood supply, reduction of nerve conductivity and reduction of muscle spasm. Once the cold stimulus is taken off, the temperature of the area reaches normal level by improved blood supply. This improved blood supply brings fresh blood, which flushes inflammatory mediations. Again reapplication of cold stimulus repeats same event. This helps in tissues healing and pain relief.
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Ice can be applied in towels as a pack or by immersion in a bath. Damp towels dipped in an ice and water mixture or containing crushed or flaked ice, can be wrapped round painful and swollen joints. The towels are changed every few minutes. In ice massage, an ice cube is wrapped in a towel at one end and the free end is massaged over the skin. This can act as counterirritant if applied for 5 to 7 minutes to relieve pain and muscle spasm.
Ice therapy can alleviate pain frequently and onset of pain can be delayed by early application of therapy. This will reduce bleeding and swelling by causing reduced blood supply.
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One should be careful while applying ice therapy for extremities like digits and toes for the risk of reducing blood supply below critical level. |
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