Most people turn to handmade and cost-effective treatments when it comes to the pain or twist in the ligaments, muscles, joints or the back. But we have seen the effectiveness of hot packs in the earlier segment. Hot packs are only effective to the upper levels below the skin. The heat does not penetrate to the depth where the pain is rooted. The connection, between the muscle, the bone and the joint, is such that it reacts better to cold or reduced temperatures. Hence, ice packs are more effective. This is called “icing therapy”. Blood clots and flesh wounds inflicted by accidents can also be treated by ice packs. The ice plays the role of an anesthetic. It is effective even on fresh wounds. When met with an accident, the muscle swells up, the skin turns red and the blood flow increases in these regions. It is highly advised not to make use of hot water packs in such situations because it will only accelerate the flow blood further. Besides this, there is no substantial pain relief and there are no real benefits.

Apart from being effective in relieving pains in the muscles of the tennis elbow and the shoulder, this remedy has yielded results in helping cases of rheumatoid arthritis and other types of arthritis too.

Using ice packs are, in fact, a traditional remedy for swollen muscles. Even for ailments such as blood clots as well as accidents of the muscles and the ligaments it is recommended that icing therapy be used. Ice packs are useful for soothing areas that suffer from chronic pain as well.

Classic inflammation, principally, affects the immune system of the body. When a tissue is damaged or hurt, it mostly undergoes chemical and neurological reconstruction. This is called an inflammation. The blood circulating veins tend to broaden up and consequently they fall loose. The activation of the immune system then shoots the pain that is felt during a inflammation.

Cautionary measure while using an ice pack

It is very common for people to use homemade ice packs. But it is necessary to take special cautionary measures while using an ice pack upon septic or broken skin. One must be careful to apply the pack at the edges of the wound alone or else one risks aggravating the infection. The inflammation numbs the metabolic activity in the area it has affected. To numb the nerves of an area is equivalent to administering anesthesia to it. It also narrows down the blood veins, thus reducing the swelling and relieving the pain. Scraped heels as well as pain of the joints can also be relieved using this cure. The ineffectiveness of the hot pack has been practically proven a number of times. Hot pack gives a sense of temporary relief but without any concrete results. In the case of =scraped heels and joint pains, the swelling is internal. Applying the ice pack for 10-15 minutes a day promises ample relief. For any kind of muscle and joint pain, an ice pack is the most advisable remedy. Hot packs are strictly not advisable.