Hero Posted December 30, 2005 Share Posted December 30, 2005 "Some like it hot When an infection or injury takes place, the body produces a reaction called inflammation. Inflammation serves to direct the elements of the immune system to the site of infection or injury. Inflammation consists of three parts-increased blood supply to the infected area; increased permeability of the small blood vessels permitting large molecules to leave the bloodstream and reach the infection; and increased migration of phagocytes toward the site of infection. Inflammation causes the infected area to look red, become swollen, and feel hot and painful. The non-specific division of the immune system, including skin, mucus, cilia and phagocyte can take care of many infections and potential infections. Problems arise when phagocytes lack the ability to identify things that bypass the non-specific division of the immune system's defenses." Ive always been told to put ice on the area to reduce inflammation. but if imflammation tells your body where to redirect itself and to work on the injured area....wouldnt it be best to let it swell then, so your body can protect the area and know what to fix?? i hear icing an imflamed area right away will help speed recovery time, but how is this true? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madcat Posted December 30, 2005 Share Posted December 30, 2005 Hey, good to see you got to a computer. I don’t think ice has anything to do with the actual recovery. I think it just helps to take away the discomfort. I have heard ice for the first 48 hours, to reduce swelling. Then apply heat. To increase blood flow to the area and speed up tissue repair. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hero Posted December 30, 2005 Author Share Posted December 30, 2005 but if swelling is what tells your body to heal the area....why reduce it ? this is what im wondering. there should be discomfort, its your body's way of tellng ya something is wrong Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madcat Posted December 30, 2005 Share Posted December 30, 2005 Dang, I know I learned this in school… I just wish I could remember the exact reason. Swelling is not telling your body to heal the area. The added fluid causes excess pain. Putting ice on an injury causes the blood vessels to constrict. I think the reason it is beneficial is because the fluids stay at the injured area longer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madcat Posted December 30, 2005 Share Posted December 30, 2005 I’m ganna have to email my teacher. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hero Posted December 31, 2005 Author Share Posted December 31, 2005 please do Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tylerm Posted January 2, 2006 Share Posted January 2, 2006 I was under the impression that the ice will increase blood flow to the area, in order to warm it up, speeding up the healing process Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hero Posted January 2, 2006 Author Share Posted January 2, 2006 I was under the impression that the ice will increase blood flow to the area, in order to warm it up, speeding up the healing process ice thins blood... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madcat Posted January 3, 2006 Share Posted January 3, 2006 Your body is designed to protect its vital organs. When exposed to cold capillaries in your skin and extremities contact, to keep a larger volume of blood at your internal organs. This also helps to slow down heat loss. The same thing happens on a smaller area when ice is applied. I am not sure that ice “thins” the blood… I have never heard that. Also aspirin dose not “thin” the blood that is a common misconception. What really happens is it stops platelets from sticking together. Side note, alcohol is a vasodilator, it opens up blood vessels. When you drink alcohol it makes you feel warm because if the increased circulation to your skin. In reality this allows for an increased loss of heat. You will become hypodermic faster if you drink. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hero Posted January 4, 2006 Author Share Posted January 4, 2006 i should have put thin in quotation marks. as in this is what commonly hear Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willpeavy Posted January 4, 2006 Share Posted January 4, 2006 I'm not sure about the science behind it, but hot baths help me more than anything when I'm sore. Ice just seems to numb the pain and reduce bruising Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
9nines Posted May 22, 2006 Share Posted May 22, 2006 I was wondering the same thing on an injury - does icing/drugs retard the healing prcoess. If anyone learns anything please post it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathryn Posted May 23, 2006 Share Posted May 23, 2006 Standard practice for injury is RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation). All four elements are meant to reduce swelling. The swelling is blood, but also other fluids, that rush to the area to partially immobilize it so it can heal. I think that the icing protocol is valid,even though it does contradict what our bodies want to do naturally. After 24 hours of icing, though, it's recomended to alternate ice with heat, which stimulates circulation to the area. So the initial iciing reduces what could be excessive swelling, which could also damage tissues, perhaps, while the alternating ice/heat brings back the benefits of increased circulation to the area. If left to heal naturally, it would, but perhaps more slowly. The ice, then ice/heat takes the natural healing mechanism and tweaks it a bit, IMO. Better than taking medication! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fudgam Posted October 10, 2006 Share Posted October 10, 2006 RICE is good for pain/swelling. It has merit if you are a competitive athlete. If you are injured during practice/training, you stilll need to step on the field in 2 days. RICE is to control swelling, pain, and ultimately will allow you to perform on the field. The goal is not recovery, but to get pain under control. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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