When a sports injury occurs, should you apply heat, cold, or both?

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Jay Dicharry
Director, UVA Health System
www.healthsystem.virginia.edu  
434-243-5622

Jay Dicharry MPT, CSCS, is the Director of the SPEED Performance Clinic and the Motion Analysis Lab Coordinator at the University of Virginia . Originally from New Orleans , LA , Jay received his BS from the University of Southern Mississippi in Exercise Physiology in 1997. In 2001, Jay completed the Master of Physical Therapy degree at Louisiana State University Medical Center . He has pursued additional course work in exercise physiology and wilderness medicine, and is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength & Conditioning Association and a certified coach through both the United States Track and Field Association and the United States Cycling Federation. Jay has a competitive history in swimming, triathlon, cycling, and running events on both the local and national level. He serves as the Coach of the Masters Swimming program for the City of Charlottesville . Jay has helped to organize and presented at the annual UVA Running Medicine conference and has been published in a medical review text. He has been an invited lecturer in the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation residency and the Exercise Physiology department at the University of Virginia. Jay's research and treatment interests lie in the biomechanics and treatment of athletes. Jay is the husband of his wife Asha and the servant of his loyal dog, Turbo.

When a sports injury occurs, should you apply heat, cold, or both?

In this video, Jay Dicharry, director of the SPEED Performance Clinic and the Motion Analysis Lab Coordinator at the University of Virginia Health System, discusses the application of heat and cold for sports injuries.

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Host: When a sports injury occurs, should you apply heat, cold, or both?

Jay Dicharry: With regards to heat and cold it's important to think about the time of the injury. Usually from the incidence of the injury up to about 72 hours, cold should be applied for about 15-20 minutes, numerous times throughout the day with at least 45 minutes break between each application and call back. Heat tends to draw blood flow in which can actually increase inflammatory response, it is not something we want to do with an acute injury.

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