Heat and cold therapy
The oldest tools in the kit, used at the right time in the right place.
What it involves
Heat (thermotherapy) relaxes tight muscles and increases blood flow; cold (cryotherapy) settles acute swelling and dulls sharp pain. Simple tools, but timing and placement decide whether they help: cold has its place in the first days after an acute injury, heat suits stiffness and muscle guarding.
What it is commonly used for
- Acute injuries: managed with cold as part of early care.
- Muscle tightness and stiffness: where heat before movement makes exercise more productive.
- Flare-ups of long-running conditions, as self-management you can do at home.
Where it fits
Mostly as self-management your physiotherapist teaches you to use well: which one, where, how long, and the mistakes to avoid (heat on fresh swelling being the classic). It supports the active plan built through exercise therapy; it does not replace it.
General information, not a diagnosis: whether this treatment suits you is decided at your own assessment with a registered physiotherapist.