Muscle injury: do i need to do a cold or hot pack to get better?

According to physiotherapist Fernanda Almeida, there are benefits to both

To the Ask the expert this week we talk about it muscle injuries. If you also have questions about health, psychology, wellness, exercise or nutrition, write to ana.lourenco@estadao.com or send a DM to our instagram.

For muscle injuries, the most advisable is to do hot pack, cold pack or alternate? Vanessa Gama, Santo André

Answers Fernanda Almeida, physiotherapist, specializing in orthopedic and sports traumatic physiotherapy and post-operative rehabilitation specialist.

The most effective way in case of muscle injuries is to apply the cold pack in the first 48 hours and use the warm water pack in the following days. Ice will help shrink the vessels and relieve pain in the first few days. The hot water bottle will help muscle relaxation and dilation of blood vessels. Therefore, it will help in healing and containment of the inflammatory process.

Each compress, hot or cold, should last 10 to 15 minutes. In the first three days, the ideal is to have a 2 hour interval between tablets. After 72 hours of injury, the rest time should be increased, which can range from 4 to 5 hours.

The number of days it takes to use the packs varies according to the degree of injury. In grade I, the patient has only swelling and discomfort. The average time to relieve symptoms is about two weeks. When the injury is Grade II, there is already a loss of function due to pain. In this case, the average recovery time is eight to ten weeks. Grade III has a complete tear of the muscle, so the pain is intense and the average time to relief is six months.

If the pain persists or the symptoms worsen, it is advisable to consult a specialist to assess the severity of the injury. A doctor should be consulted even if the pain is very severe and the patient has limited movement or a very large bruise at the injury site.

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Source: Terra

Benjamin

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