If you have sprained a wrist, pulled your back, or twisted an ankle before, you've likely heard of the age-old R.I.C.E. protocol— rest, ice, compression, and elevation. And while painkillers can help ...

Ice helps reduce swelling and pain by narrowing blood vessels and limiting blood flow. You can use heat to relax tight muscles and improve blood flow after 48-72 hours of injury. Applying ice for ...

Physical therapy can be a great form of treatment. When it is bolstered by convenient methods like ice packs, its effects can be even more impactful. Ice packs are cost-effective and portable, making ...

There are a whopping 35 million visits to emergency departments across the country annually for injuries. A majority of these are musculoskeletal injuries managed with X-ray imaging, splinting and ...

We've all put an ice pack - or packet of frozen peas - on a bumped head, and anyone who has completed a first aid course will have heard of the acronym ICE; meaning ice, constrict and elevate, but ...

You twisted your ankle during a run. Or you woke up with a tight neck after hours of desk work. In that moment of pain, the question arises: Should you ice it, or heat it? The answer depends not on ...

Beth Skwarecki is Lifehacker’s Senior Health Editor, and holds certifications as a personal trainer and weightlifting coach. She has been writing about health for over 10 years. Home "remedies" are ...

Healthcare professionals often recommend heat or ice therapy to relieve back pain. Which type of therapy to use depends on the cause of the pain and a person’s individual circumstances. Back pain ...