• When to Use Deep Heat & Deep Freeze

    Whenever you sustain an injury it’s natural to want to get back out doing the things you love as quickly as possible. Whether you have suffered a muscular injury or you have damaged your ligaments, we all want to get the injury treated and to see it healing as quickly as possible.

    Is deep freeze good for muscle pain?

    For many of us, an easy self-treatment option involves hot and cold therapy in the form of either Deep Heat or Deep Freeze products.

    They have become the go-to products for impact injuries, muscular aches and other pains in the body, but there are still plenty of people who are either using the products incorrectly or are uncertain as to when to apply Deep Heat and Deep Freeze products to treat the problems.

    So to help you effectively use our collection of hot and cold therapy products, the PhysioRoom team have put together this guide to help you understand when to use Deep Heat and Deep Freeze, and the most suitable products for certain injuries.

    What’s the difference between Deep Heat and Deep Freeze?

    The main difference between Deep Heat and Deep Freeze products, as the names suggest, is the use of heat and cooling on the affected areas. When using Deep Heat sprays, muscle rubs and patches the warming effect boosts circulation, brings additional blood to the affected area, which brings vital oxygen and nutrients to the muscles and helps them to move more freely, aiding the recovery and regeneration of injured tissues.

    In contrast, Deep Freeze sprays and muscle rubs cause the blood vessels to constrict and this helps to minimise the amount of damage in the area by reducing inflammation and stopping it from spreading. This is why bruising from impact injuries is usually constrained to such relatively small areas rather than causing the whole leg or arm to ache, for instance.

    To check out the wide range of Deep Heat and Deep Freeze muscle sprays & rubs that we have to offer here at PhysioRoom, head over to our dedicated muscle sprays range.

    When should I use Deep Heat and Deep Freeze?

    Both Deep Heat and Deep Freeze products can, and should, be used at different times if you are still able to exercise, play or train. As is always the case, your muscles should be warm, more pliable and ready for action before you start exercising so Deep Heat muscle rubs and sprays can be used to get the blood flowing; while Deep Freeze can be used afterwards to treat any injuries that may have occurred.

    However if you are seeking pain relief from muscular aches, pains and stiffness in areas such as the back or neck, you are more likely to benefit using hot packs.

    Whereas if you need to treat joint pain or muscle injuries, you will be better off using Deep Freeze products.

    Is deep heat or deep freeze better for back pain?

    The best way to treat back problems is with Deep Heat muscle rubs or heat patches. Back pain is one of the most common injuries and ailments, as there are so many different ways in which it can occur. Back pain can affect a large area of the body as it can cause tightness in associated muscles and make walking or general daily activities difficult. Heat therapy can help soothe the tightness so symptoms are less global and activities of daily living become easier.

    For some it is a genetic condition, for others it is muscular, but applying a steady amount of heat to the affected area can relieve the aching and improve movement, in the case of heat patches, they can provide constant relief throughout the day as the supply of heat can ease pain for up to 16 hours.

    If you are experiencing back pain and need an effective form of pain relief, head over to our dedicated back pain relief range.

    Does deep heat help knee pain?

    If you are being troubled by pain caused by an impact injury such as; twisting or jarring your knee, R.I.C.E. treatment (rest, ice, compression and elevation) is the best way to relieve the pain. By applying cold compresses, ice packs or Deep Freeze pain relief gels to the affected area while resting and keeping the leg raised can help to relieve any sharp or shooting pain by reducing the inflammatory effect of the injury.

    The treatment should be used for a few minutes each hour before gradually reducing the amount of therapy to a handful of times a day as your symptoms improve. In the following weeks after injury the initial sharp pain may subside into a dull ache and cause some muscle tightness in the area, this would indicate the application of heat therapy to help eradicate the symptoms and ensure full healing.

    Knee injuries are common in sport, so make sure that you are prepared for the worst by checking out PhysioRoom’s range of Deep Freeze products.

    Let PhysioRoom help you on the road to recovery

    At PhysioRoom, we have a vast collection of Deep Heat and Deep Freeze products that are certain to help you on making a full recovery. So quickly get back to playing the sport that you love by heading over to our dedicated hot & cold treatment supplies.

    Learn More About Hot & Cold Therapy Treatment

    Or if you would like to learn more about just how hot and cold therapy can help you, why not take a look at PhysioRooms’ in-depth guide to hot and cold treatments.