Ice vs. Heat

The first instinct after an injury is usually to ice or heat the area. Which is more beneficial? It depends on the situation and the type of injury you are treating. Both can be used in the treatment of an injury to the lower extremities.

Ice

• Ice should be used immediately following an injury and is commonly used throughout the first 24 hours of an injury.
• Ice can be used on injuries that continue to cause pain and swelling.
• Icing is effective after activity and at the end of the day since injuries are being walked on all day.
• Typically it is safe to ice an area for 15 minutes per hour.
• The icepack should not be in direct contact with your body; wrap the ice in a cloth or paper towel.
• Icing causes a numbing effect on the nerves, which can help to reduce pain.
• Swelling is an effect of the body bringing the proper cells and nutrients to heal the injury.
• Icing reduces swelling by constricting the blood vessels and limiting fluid to the area.

Heat

• Heat relaxes the muscles.
• Heat opens the small blood vessels.
• Heat alone should not be used in acute injuries because the dilating of the blood vessels will cause further swelling.
• Heat helps in easing pain in arthritic joints.
• Typically it is safe to use a heating pad for 20 to 30 minutes.
• Be careful not to make the heating pad too hot for risk of a burn.

If you have any questions about icing or applying heat to your injury, it is best to ask a physician. If pain persists, it is best to visit a physician for a thorough examination of the injury. 

Image by Quinn Dombrowski. Ow. (2009). Flickr.

Children and Fractures

Did you know one out of every ten broken bones occurs in the foot? There are 26 bones in the human foot, which means 26 ways to break it. Broken Bones are more common in children than adults. Here are a few facts/tips about children's fractures: 

Ligaments and tendons are stronger than bones when you are a child, which makes it easier to break a bone, as opposed to just spraining it.

Bones break when they get crushed, bent, twisted or stretched.  Most breaks happen suddenly as a result of accidents and injuries. Be sure your child is wearing appropriate shoes for the activity they are partaking in.

Children’s fractures may be difficult to see in x-rays because parts of a growing bone do not show up well on this diagnostic imaging. It is sometimes a good idea to x-ray the uninjured foot for comparison.

When examining an injured foot, compare both feet side-by-side. Check for swelling, bruising, cuts or wounds, discoloration, and coldness. Try to get an idea of how much pain your child is experiencing.

Get your child to a health care professional as soon as possible. Try to keep them from walking on the injured foot.

Image by Dennis Yang. My Foot in a Cast. (2006). Flickr.

Podiatrist Visit

If you are scheduling an appointment with a podiatrist for a specific problem, it is best to be prepared to answer a variety of questions relating to your symptoms. Here is a list to consider:

·         What are the main symptoms?

·         How long have you been experiencing these symptoms?

·         Was there something that provoked these symptoms?

   Examples: Injury, new shoes, new exercise routine, new medications

·         Have you experienced this problem in the past? If so, how was it treated?

·         Are there some things that make your symptoms better or worse?

·         Have you tried any home treatments?

If it is your first visit with this podiatrist, make sure to bring any relevant medical records and be prepared to talk about your medical history. If you are on medications, make a list of those to share. It is important to speak freely about your health, to share as much information as you can about symptoms you are experiencing, and to ask questions if there is something you are unclear on. 

Image by Ken Wilcox. Day 254-Feet. (2009). Flickr.