In this phase, the injured area will likely feel warm, swollen, painful to contact or with movement, and has developed a localized muscle spasm. This initial phase will only last about 24-48 hours. This is the important time to apply ice therapy immediately to reduce inflammation and allow healing to progress.
For maximum benefit, ice needs to be applied at least 5 times over a 24-hour period, with at least one hour in between for circulation to return before starting the next ice treatment.
| Size of body area | Sample area | Length of Ice Application in Minutes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Small |
Hands, feet elbow |
5 minutes |
|||
Medium |
Neck, shoulder, knee, leg |
10 minutes |
|||
Large |
Low back, buttock |
15-20 minutes |
Staying within these general time lines is a safe bet. The old saying, "a little is good, therefore a lot is better," does not apply here. If ice is left on too long, it will produce increased swelling and make the condition worse. After an acute phase has passed, the other phases of healing can proceed.
Unfortunately, Dr. Brody has seen patients who are 12 months post-injury who still have swelling, heat and local muscle spasm because they forgot to apply ice and take the injury through the acute phase of care