What is the difference between cold compress and hot compress?

In daily life, when people understand the methods of hot compress and cold compress, they are also very concerned about the specific differences between the two. So, what are the specific differences between hot compress and cold compress?

Choose a cold compress:

Ice compresses should be applied in the first two or three days after acute injury, and ice compresses must be applied promptly after rehabilitation exercises after surgery. (Such as sprained ankle, such as falling, sprain and physical impact, etc.)

Acute injury: Acute injuries are often caused by sudden trauma (such as falls, sprains, and physical impacts), and pain symptoms occur immediately. After injury, local bleeding, inflammation, swelling and pain occur.

The correct way to apply ice: Use an ice-water mixture through a towel and place it on the area that needs ice. Apply the ice for about 15-20 minutes each time, and there should be a 1-2 hour interval between each ice application. When the pain is not too obvious, you can apply ice every 2-3 hours.

Choose heat:

Use heat for chronic injuries. Such as lumbar muscle strain, periarthritis of shoulder, etc.

Chronic injuries: usually without sudden trauma, they develop slowly due to repeated strain and overuse over a long period of time.

Correct method of hot compress: hot bottle, hot towel, hot massage or commercially available hot compress bag are placed on the part that needs hot compress. Hot compress therapy is generally applied for about 15-20 minutes, once a day, and the temperature of the hot compress is about 40 degrees.