MEDICAL ADVISES [back to medical advises]

ICE THERAPY PROTOCOL

Author :   Errol Toran, D.C

The following is an outline for the proper use of ice therapy for an acute or a chronic injury. The concept of ice therapy is to chill an area in order to decrease the flow of body fluid to an area and thus reduce the inflammation. The cold will also make the fluids around the injury site thicker. Thicker fluids will not flow into the injury and cause swelling as easily as runny, thin fluids. Finally the cold will help numb the traumatized nerve ending and decrease pain.

Step 1:
Fill a "zip-lock" storage bag half way with ice.
Try to be sure that the bag is large enough to
cover the affected area.

Step 2:
Add enough water to the ice to cover half of the ice in the bag. The water is essential in order to help spread the cold evenly.

Step 3:
Moisten a moderate size towel. the wet
area should cover the injury site and be
approximately the size of the plastic bag.

Step 4:
Cover the injured area with the wet towel. lace the ice bag over the moistened area and cover the ice bag with the remaining dry portion of the towel.

The ice should be left on for no less than 15 minutes and no more than 20 minutes per session. The time between applications can be variable, but no more than once an hour.

Never ice before you use a muscle or a joint
Use ice after muscular activity or joint usage.