When dealing with muscle pain it can be a little bit confusing on how to best find receive relief. Many will reach straight away for an ice pack but that may not be the best solution to the problem. It may be better to apply heat to the problem. For the next two weeks we are going to be discussing on the Zim’s blog when to use heat vs cold therapy for muscle pain relief and how the Zim’s line of pain relief products can be an effective tool against body aches.
The most important guide to keep in mind when choosing heat vs cold is what type of pain are we having. For acute pain or pain ”directly related to soft tissue damage such as a sprained ankle” we want to use cold therapy or ice. So if we have injured or actually torn a muscle then cold relief is the smart choice. On the other hand, heat therapy is more effective for chronic or more over-all muscle pain and stiffness.
Heat Therapy?
Heat therapy is helpful because it improves circulation and blood flow to the heated muscle. “Increasing the temperature of the afflicted area even slightly can soothe discomfort and increase muscle flexibility” This is why heat therapy can be so relaxing because the muscles are literally relaxing.
There are also 2 different kinds of heat therapy: moist and dry heat. Moist heat are methods that use hot water or steam like hot baths and steamed towels. On the other hand, dry heat is methods like saunas and heating pads and blankets. Both of these methods should aim for ‘”warm” as the ideal temperature instead of ”hot”’
Zim’s Heat Liquid
Zim’s Max Heat Liquid can be a helpful tool in providing heat therapy to stiff muscles. This easy to use liquid provides a topical analgesic that is a winning formula to especially relax neck and shoulder muscles quickly and effectively. The heat therapy comes from a methyl salicylate liquid that includes peppermint oil and capsicum extract. Like all of our products, the vanishing scent formula makes it easy to use during the day without being disruptive to those around you. It’s the perfect solution for your heat therapy needs.
What is your favorite way to apply heat to painful muscles and what benefit has it been for your life? We would love to hear in the comments section
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