Do you treat a muscle pull with heat or cold?

Answer by  Merzkiyi (604)

Right after it happens, use ice for a few 15-minute periods, taking breaks. You can do this for a few hours. Otherwise, use heat to keep the muscle warm and loose, which will prevent the strain getting any worse. If you treat it with cold too much the muscle will get stiff and cause further pain.

Answer by  partyanimal33 (452)

Use ice initially to minimize any swelling. After about 24 hours, you can apply heat. This will help relax the muscle. So both are good when used in that order.

Answer by  Napasaurus (243)

Generally speaking the best treatment for muscle sprains is good old fashioned rest and relaxation. However, alternating heat and cold has been show to be highly effective. Try keeping an ice pack on the injury site awhile and then taking a nice hot bath. Or just use an IcyHot type product if you need to work through the pain.