Do you put cold or heat on a sore knee, maybe a pulled ligament?

Answer 1

.Rest and protect an injured or sore area. Stop, change, or take a break from any activity that may be causing your pain or soreness. When resting, place a small pillow under your knee.
Ice will reduce pain and swelling. Apply ice or cold packs immediately to prevent or minimize swelling. Apply the ice or cold pack for 10 to 20 minutes, 3 or more times a day.
For the first 48 hours after an injury, avoid things that might increase swelling, such as hot showers, hot tubs, hot packs, or alcoholic beverages.
After 48 to 72 hours, if swelling is gone, apply heat and begin gentle exercise with the aid of moist heat to help restore and maintain flexibility. Some experts recommend alternating between heat and cold treatments.
Compression, or wrapping the injured or sore area with an elastic bandage (such as an Ace wrap), will help decrease swelling.
Don't wrap it too tightly, since this can cause more swelling below the affected area. Loosen the bandage if it gets too tight. Signs that the bandage is too tight include numbness, tingling, increased pain, coolness, or swelling in the area below the bandage.
Don't expect the bandage to protect or stabilize a knee injury.
Talk to your doctor if you think you need to use a wrap for longer than 48 to 72 hours; a more serious problem may be present.
Elevate the injured or sore area on pillows while applying ice and anytime you are sitting or lying down. Try to keep the area at or above the level of your heart to help minimize swelling.
Reduce stress on your sore knee (until you can get advice from your doctor):
Use a cane or crutch in the hand opposite your painful knee.
Use two crutches, keeping weight off the leg with the sore knee. Canes and crutches can be rented from most pharmacies. Crutches are recommended if a cane causes you to walk with a limp.
Gently massage or rub the area to relieve pain and encourage blood flow. Do not massage the injured area if it causes pain.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

You would want to put ice on it at first. Ice it for 15-20 min at a time and then wait 30 min in between icings. This will help cut down on the inflammation. Once the inflammation has decreased then you can use heat, but be sure it is a moist heat and not a dry heat like a heating pad. You could soak in a hot bath or even put a wet towel in the microwave and heat it that way. Again....not for longer that 15-20 min at a time. You always want to start with ice immediately after an injury and then switch to heat after the inflammation has gone.

Answer 4

Some people like heat for pain relief. More like cold.
Heat stimulates circulation and loosens tissue up- good to do before stretching a stiff joint.
Ice tightens everything back up again after the working out, and provides some pain relief and decreases swelling.

Answer 5

I was always told ice. Cold reduces swelling. but recently I was told to alternate between cold and heat, 15 min at a time

Answer 6

cold. Your doctor will tell you always cold to an injury.

Much later after you have been icing it for at least a few days, you can alternate warm and cold 20 minutes each.
warm feels good because it relaxes muscles but it increases inflammation.

If you use warm at all alternate it with cold.

Answer 7

ice reduces inflammation. heat increases it. generally pain in the knee is from inflammation due to some kind of damage.
only ice for 15 minutes at a time every hour or so though. any more and your body thinks it's freezing and heats the area.

Answer 8

initially, it is best to put on a cold compress. ice will do. and then after a day, you may do the alternating hot and cold compress on your knee, 15 minutes each 3-5 times daily until the sore heals.

Answer 9

My dr told me 20 minutes heat and 20 minutes cold

Answer 10

Yes you can use heat on your knee but i would alternate with heat and ice in 30 minute intervals.