08/29/2026
Ice or heat? This is a question i answer probably on a daily basis. The real answer isn’t in your freezer or your heating pad. It’s gradual, progressive movement.
Ice? It can dull pain for a little bit & can even help some swelling depending on what’s going on. Heat? Great for loosening stiff or sore muscles and can help calm pain. But here’s the catch—both are just short-term comfort. Neither one is what actually heals you.
What heals you is MOVEMENT. The strongest evidence we have—across back pain, sprains, and muscle injuries—points to active treatment. Gentle, guided exercise. Loading the tissue. Getting it moving again. That’s what rebuilds strength, restores function, and gets you back to your life. Start gentle. Progress it gradually. And if you’re not sure how to load an injury safely to get you out of pain & back to living life on your terms, that’s exactly what a physical therapist is for. Not just a short-term fix but the long-term answer.
If you find yourself relying on heat or ice or other passive modalities to get you through your day or hoping it will lead to the fix of your pain or injury, take the guesswork out & send us a message or visit the website linked in the bio.
*Disclaimer*: This is general education, not medical advice. Severe pain, inability to bear weight, numbness, or deformity needs an in-person evaluation.