rbowser
07-02-2007, 09:34 AM
In today's world, there are only a few simple ways to heal and help Tennis Elbow, and some might take a while. While reading several articles and advice from fellow victims of Tennis Elbow, I discovered something that I'm confused on: Heat or Ice?
-Many times I use heat to help relieve pain or to heal a place that is hurting or uncomfortable. For example, my friend used heat to help him recover from his bad knee and it was healed after a month of constant heating and some strength excercise. Although, everytime I go read the articles, the essays, the advice on forums, they all say ice. Yes, ICE does work, but isn't that only to prevent inflammation and swelling? That's right after you use that body part, in this case, your arm with tennis elbow. If you constantly do that while taking a break for your arm, would that heal your tennis elbow? It seems as though it wouldn't..
-Heat makes more sense to me for 'healing' tennis elbow while resting it because Ice again, is only for when you use that arm, it's a short-period treatment unlike heat. I'm not a scientist, doctor or anything, but doesnt heat help circulate your blood flow better? Ice makes the blood slow down right? If you want that area to heal, yes, slow down the blood flow first to reduce swelling, but wouldn't you heat it after for long periods of time so there is increased blood flow? If you don't use that arm, it wouldn't really inflame as if you just played tennis with that arm. If you use heat, wouldn't it promote some healing? Just a few questions because I think heat works better, but everyone else says constant icing.
:idea:
-Many times I use heat to help relieve pain or to heal a place that is hurting or uncomfortable. For example, my friend used heat to help him recover from his bad knee and it was healed after a month of constant heating and some strength excercise. Although, everytime I go read the articles, the essays, the advice on forums, they all say ice. Yes, ICE does work, but isn't that only to prevent inflammation and swelling? That's right after you use that body part, in this case, your arm with tennis elbow. If you constantly do that while taking a break for your arm, would that heal your tennis elbow? It seems as though it wouldn't..
-Heat makes more sense to me for 'healing' tennis elbow while resting it because Ice again, is only for when you use that arm, it's a short-period treatment unlike heat. I'm not a scientist, doctor or anything, but doesnt heat help circulate your blood flow better? Ice makes the blood slow down right? If you want that area to heal, yes, slow down the blood flow first to reduce swelling, but wouldn't you heat it after for long periods of time so there is increased blood flow? If you don't use that arm, it wouldn't really inflame as if you just played tennis with that arm. If you use heat, wouldn't it promote some healing? Just a few questions because I think heat works better, but everyone else says constant icing.
:idea: