Why ICE (Cold) instead of HEAT (Hot)?  When dealing with an acute (recent) injury, often there is swelling associated with the injury. The adjustments that we provide in this office are designed to remove the pressure and pinching associated with vertebral subluxations. As the area around a subluxation is irritated, more swelling can cause further pinching. Heat therapy will cause more blood flow to the injured area and will also cause more fluid around the sensitive nerve roots emerging from the vertebrae. Heat will actually feel good initially for these types of injury but following the therapy; heat will cause more swelling and pinching of the nerve root. In this office, the Doctor recommends the use of Cryotherapy (ice therapy) for the reduction of swelling and anesthesia (pain relief). The ice should be used to shrink the tissues surrounding the nerve root.

The recommended and best use of Cryotherapy in your care is as follows:

• Only apply an ice pack or crushed ice to the skin indirectly. It is best to use a light towel around the ice pack.
• The ice pack should only be applied to the area for fifteen (15) to twenty (20) minutes only. After that, the ice becomes an irritant and is less effective.
• It is recommended that the ice pack be refrozen and remain off the area for at least forty-five(45) minutes.
• For the maximum effectiveness of this therapy, this cycle should be repeated so that the ice pack is on the area for three periods.
• If for some reason that you are sensitive to cryotherapy or have any health condition that cryotherapy is not recommended, discontinue immediately and discuss this with the Doctor.