Ice therapy, information for service users and carers
Introduction
It has been recommended that you use ice therapy for your soft tissue or joint injury.
How does ice therapy work?
The local tissues are cooled by ice therapy. As the ice melts it takes heat away from the body part.
Benefits of ice therapy
The main effects of ice therapy are:
- a reduction in swelling
- a pain killing effect on nerve transmission
- a reduction in muscle spasm.
By reducing the swelling and pain in the affected area you will be able to perform normal activities more quickly.
What to do
Do
- apply the ice therapy as often as you require
- use ice therapy if your foot is swollen, painful, looks red and or feels hot
- use a commercial ice pack or you can use, for example, a bag of frozen peas
- wrap the bag in a cloth such as a tea towel to prevent ice burns
- apply ice therapy 5 to 10 minutes in every 30 minutes when required
- once the ice starts to melt, place in a plastic bag and put it back into your freezer
- continue to use ice therapy for as long as it is beneficial
Contact Doncaster podiatry foot protection service
Cantley Health Centre
Middleham Road
Cantley
Doncaster
South Yorkshire
DN4 6ED
Telephone: 03000 211550
Email: rdash.podiatryreferrals@nhs.net
Document control
Leaflet information
This information is correct at the time of publishing
April 2017.
Document reference: DP7830/07.17
Page last reviewed: February 06, 2024
Next review due: February 06, 2025