Strained muscles: ice or heat? or both?

[LindsayDunn228]

I pulled a muscle in my shoulder working out the other day. It isn't really getting better with Ibuprofin alone. It's in a wierd spot and now it's making my back cramp. I can't remember; for muscle strains do you use heat, ice, or both to help them??

Thanks for any and all advice!

 

[SDFgirl]

I think you are supposed to use both, always ending with cold.

Hope you feel better!

 

[LindsayDunn228]

Thanks!

 

[ntburns22]

When I pulled muscles in my shoulder my chiropractor told me to ice it 30 minutes on 30 minutes off. I pulled it so bad I couldn't even sleep. I hope you are feeling better soon.

 

[BuzzBoyMom]

Ice first to reduce swelling. Then heat to increase circulation.

 

[ADisneygirl]

I pulled or strained a muscle in my calf a few months ago and it still isn't better! I didn't do the right thing though, which is RICE. Rest. Ice, Compression, Elevation. I am now trying to ice it every day for 15 minutes and stay off it when I get home from work. I hope to rest it more when school gets out and I am off for the summer.

 

[L107ANGEL]

When I pulled muscles in my shoulder my chiropractor told me to ice it 30 minutes on 30 minutes off. I pulled it so bad I couldn't even sleep. I hope you are feeling better soon.

Thats what the chiro told me when my daughter was injured last summer. He was also very relieved I didn't apply heat.

 

[Christine]

Ice first to reduce swelling. Then heat to increase circulation.

This is what my chiro told me. Ice first at the time of injury. Then use heat after the first 24 hours.