What is the best for a strained knee, ice or heat?

Answer 1

Strains are injuries that affect muscles or tendons, thick bands that attach muscles to bones. They occur in response to a quick tear, twist, or pull of the muscle. Strains are an acute type of injury that results from overstretching or over contraction. Pain, weakness, and muscle spasms are common symptoms experienced after a strain occurs.

Sprains are injuries that affect ligaments, thick bands of cartilage that attach bone to bone. They occur in response to a stretch or tear of a ligament. Sprains are an acute type of injury that results from trauma such as a fall or outside force that displaces the surrounding joint from its normal alignment. Sprains can range from a mild ligamentous stretch to a complete tear. Bruising, swelling, instability, and painful movement are common symptoms experienced after a sprain occurs.

RICE is the acronym used for Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. It is used as the best initial treatment of soft tissue injuries such as sprains, strains, and contusions. The combination of RICE helps reduce inflammation that occurs after acute injury. It is important to remember that the earlier this treatment is put into place, the more effective it is.

Rest: Rest and protect the injured area. If it hurts to bear weight on the injury, use crutches, or a cane.

Ice: Apply ice to the injury. The cold will reduce swelling and pain at the injured site. This step should be done as soon as possible. Apply the frozen object to the area for 20 minutes three times a day for the first 48 hours.

Compression: Compress the injured site. This will decrease swelling of the injured region. Although the wrap should be snug, make sure it is not too tight as this can cause numbness, tingling, or increased pain.

Elevation: Elevate the injured area above the level of the heart as much as possible. This technique will also assist in reducing the amount of swelling to the injured site.

Once the pain and swelling are eliminated, you should start gradual range of motion exercises but not to the point of pain. Each day your range of motion will increase slightly. Continue until you have complete range of motion. Than start gentle strengthening exercises to re-build the strength in the knee.

The stiffness will go away over time.

Good Luck

Answer 2

Sprained Knee Ice Or Heat

Answer 3

Ice reduces inflammation... ice in cycles of 20 on 20 off for about an hour after physical activity. Use heat to warm up the knee before doing any kind of activity (even therapy)

Answer 4

Ice and elevation for the first 48 hours, alternating ice and heat for the following 48, then just heat.

Ice limits the inflammation, heat increases the blood flow for healing. You want to limit the injury by icing it first. After that, you want to increase the blood flow to accelerate the healing process.

Answer 5

If the knee is swelling then ice will cause the swelling to go down and dull the pain. If the knee muscles are "pulled" then moist heat will cause the muscle to relax.

Answer 6

Ice for the first 24-48 hrs, heat afterwards.

Answer 7

Ice reduces inflammation, warmth relaxes muscle tissues. If there is not any inflammation, use warmth. If there is inflammation, start up with ice - 15 minutes on, 5 minutes off then a extra physically powerful 10 minutes on, then stick to this up with warmth.

Answer 8

This depends upon how long ago the injury occured. Immediately after the injury employ cold, later on move to heat treatment.

Answer 9

Alternating ice and heat.

Answer 10

Ice. It keeps swelling down by contricting the blood vessels.