What to do after sprain hot compress is different from cold compress
4hw.org: Uncle Zhang next door went down the stairs carelessly and twisted his foot. Her granddaughter quickly used a hot towel to cover the sprained part. It was still painful. When she was sent to the hospital, the doctor scolded the family members that they should not use hot compress but cold compress, at least it could make the old man feel pain. It can be seen that the difference between hot compress and cold compress is too big. Please read the following article carefully and help others when necessary.
First, let's look at the effect and principle of cold compress and hot compress
Hot compress
Hot compress can improve the local temperature of the body, expand blood vessels, accelerate blood circulation and promote metabolism. Hot compress can also make the body soft, increase the ductility of soft tissue, reduce the probability of joint stiffness and muscle spasm, and achieve the effect of relieving pain and relaxing emotions.
Cold compress
In contrast to hot compress, cold compress will reduce the temperature of the body, shrink the blood vessels, reduce the blood circulation of the part, and reduce the permeability of the blood vessels, so as to achieve the effect of slowing down metabolism, hemostasis and detumescence. In addition, cold compress can reduce muscle spasm caused by injury and avoid secondary injury of tissue cells.
It can be said that hot compress is mainly to accelerate blood circulation, promote the absorption of blood stasis and exudate, while cold compress is to reduce blood circulation, contract blood vessels, reduce local bleeding and edema.
Is it hot compress or cold compress after sprain?
Generally speaking, the first injury, that is, within 24 hours of sprain, this is the most suitable cold compress. Because at this time because of muscle damage, blood vessels are in an open state, cold compress can not only stop bleeding and promote coagulation, but also relieve pain.
After 24 hours of sprain, the blood vessels have stopped bleeding. At this time, hot compress can play a role in warming the meridians and dispersing cold, promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, and promoting the recovery of sprain tissues as soon as possible.
Of course, the use of hot compress also depends on the personal body and sprained parts. In general, when the sprain area no longer continues to edema or red fever can be hot compress.
Precautions for cold or hot application
When using cold compress, do not let ice contact with skin directly. The right way is to wrap the ice with a towel or use an ice pack for cold compress. Cold compress time should not be too long to avoid local tissue frostbite and necrosis. Generally 10-15 minutes is suitable, every time cold compress 1-2 hours interval, when there is no obvious pain, you can cold compress every 2-3 hours.
Similarly, pay attention to the temperature is not too high when hot compress, in order to avoid scalding, it is generally OK to use a 50 ℃ hot water bag or hot towel. Hot compress time should not exceed 20 minutes, twice a day is enough. When applying heat, turn over the hot water bag or hot towel in time to dissipate heat, so as not to cause low temperature scald.
Warm tip: when the sprain just occurs, do not apply hot compress or massage, otherwise it will aggravate the local damage, making the sprain part more painful and swollen. When the sprain is serious or painful, you should go to the hospital for examination and treatment as soon as possible to avoid delay.
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