![]() FAST FACTS: Non-Drug Treatment: Cold |
Cold treatments such as frozen gel packs, bag of frozen peas or cold cloths are placed at or near the site of the pain to relieve the pain. Works by numbing nerve endings in the skin, reducing muscle spasms, and decreasing swelling. Cold applications may work better than heat in some situations. Research has found: 1) Cold usually relieves more pain and more quickly than heat. 2) Pain relief from cold lasts longer than pain relief from heat, and 3) Cold is more effective in decreasing pain and swelling in the first 72 hours following an acute injury. Cold application guidelines:
Necessary Equipment
Directions:
What else you should do
References:
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Revised 3/2020

