# 19 Hot or Cold Therapy After an injury ice can be very beneficial. It can: Reduce bleeding within tissues.
{"Image DocumentName": "# 19Hot or Cold Therapy? After an injury ice can be very beneficial. It can: Reduce bleeding within tissues.", "Image ImageDescription": "Prevent or reduce swelling. Reduce muscle spasm. Reduce pain by numbing the area and reducing swelling (which causes pain through pressure) Ice or cold packs should be applied for minutes every 2-3 hours. Be sure to protect the skin if you apply ice/cold packs to prevent an ice burn. Heat is beneficial when the injury is hours old, otherwise it can worsen the bleeding and inflammation. Heat can be applied in the form of: Deep heat creams. Heat pads. Hot water bottles. Heat works by dilating the blood vessels allowing more blood to the area which has a soothing effect. It eases pain and muscle spasms.", "Image XResolution": "37", "Image YResolution": "37", "Image ResolutionUnit": "Pixels/Centimeter", "Image Software": "SlidePlayer", "Image YCbCrPositioning": "Centered"}