Cold Therapy and physiotherapy Singapore

Cold Or Ice Therapy

Cold therapy refers to the use of cold/cool modalities as a means of physiotherapy for clients with characterized pain. By utilizing cold pack, physiotherapists can help decrease the amount of blood/fluid flowing into a localized area or tissues, which slows the accumulation of fluids that causes swelling, as well as minimizing the release of natural chemicals in our bodies that causes more pain, more swelling and inflammation.

It often decreases and/or stops localized swelling or bleeding at the injured site, making it effective at pain management. This is especially helpful for an individual who had just had an injury, with accompanying pain – this approach provides quick pain relief. It is often used after therapy treatments, or used at home when acute pain flares up. When used in combination with anti-inflammatories, it helps to quickly decrease pain.

Common conditions where cold therapy is applied/can be useful:

• Joints, cartilage and other ligamental sprains and strains
• Muscle and other soft tissue tears
• Twisted ankles, knees or fingers
• Painful body parts due to various injuries such as rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis
• Post exercise cool down to muscles

If you sustained an acute injury because of sports or a trauma such as falls, fingers being slammed by heavy books etc – immediately apply ice or cold pack to the affected area. However, don’t use direct ice contact, as it may cause ice-burn or introduce bacteria into open wounds – place the ice in a plastic bag, and wrap within a layer of towel. Apply to injured site (if there’s bleeding, apply gentle pressure without causing more damage to the broken skin, and see a medical specialist).

Do not ice more than five minutes at any given time, allow at least ten minutes interval. Too long or too frequently and you may cause ice burn.