Heat therapy, also called thermotherapy, has been used for many years to ease pain and improve movement. Patients often ask whether they should apply heat to a painful or injured area. The answer depends on the type of problem, how long it has been present and how the area responds. How does heat affect the body? Heat can cause several local changes, including: Increased blood flow. Higher cell activity. Reduced muscle tension. Changes in how the nervous system processes pain

After an acute injury, one of the most common questions patients ask is: “Should I ice it?” Ice can make a painful area feel more comfortable, but it is less clear whether it helps the injury heal faster or improves the final outcome. What does ice do? Cold treatment, also called cryotherapy, lowers the temperature of the skin and nearby tissues. It can also reduce local blood flow and slow nerve signals. The most reliable effect is pain relief. Cooling the skin can reduce ho

Many people know that exercise is good for their health, yet struggle to make it part of everyday life. One reason is that modern life has removed many of the physical tasks that used to be necessary. We can travel, work, shop and communicate while sitting for long periods. Exercise therefore requires a conscious decision. We evolved to move Human beings evolved in environments where walking, carrying, climbing, lifting and occasional running were part of daily life. Modern l

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Love it, tolerate it or even hate it, exercise is synonymous with the quest to live better. It’s accepted dogma that exercise is a healthy activity, but why is it so hard to make it happen? Why do we start with great intentions but succumb to the little voice in our heads telling us to stop? One significant reason is modernity and the mismatch between our environments and physical needs. Physical activity, let alone exercise, is incredibly avoidable in the 21st century, leadi

Heat therapy, also known as thermotherapy, has been used for hundreds of years to ease pain and improve function. In some cultures, people have long believed it can even help prevent or cure diseases by reducing invading organisms (1). Today, patients frequently ask: “Should I apply heat to my injured or painful area?” This post gives a clear overview of therapeutic heating, explaining how it works, why it helps, and when (and when not) to use it. Normal Body Temperatures and

Perhaps the most common question I am asked by a patient following an acute injury or episode of pain is: “Should I ice it?” This is a completely fair question. There is a widely held belief that icing can make an injury site feel better and heal quicker, and the icing of an acute injury is recommended in several acute injury management guidelines (1,2). Icing, a form of cryotherapy, has been used in various forms for hundreds of years. It has expanded from topical ice applic

A sharp twinge, an awkward landing or sudden pain can quickly disrupt your plans, routines and confidence. Recovery is not only about healing tissue. It is also about understanding what is happening, regaining control and trusting your body again. The process is much easier when you have a clear plan and the right support. After more than a decade helping people recover from pain and injury, I have learned that successful rehabilitation usually follows a series of clear steps