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A member asked:
Are you supposed to ice or heat a pulled muscle?and will massaging it help?also, if massaging does help, should i do it before or after the ice/heat?
3 doctors weighed in across 2 answers
Heat: In my experience, heat is better for muscular injuries and ice for joint injuries. Massage after heat applied as the muscle is more relaxed.
Answered 8/21/2014
3.8k views
Ice 24 hours: Initial use of ice (10 minutes on/10 minutes off, with a thin layer of cloth between ice and skin) right after an acute injury can decrease some of the swelling and pain. After the first 24 hours, most of the worst swelling is done, and heat may relieve discomfort and enhance blood flow and healing of the area. Gentle massage may also enhance blood flow and healing after the initial day or two.
Answered 8/21/2014
3.8k views
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