Is Icing After Injury Helping or Hurting? New Evidence Raises Questions
Cryotherapy can relieve pain, but may hinder healing if used beyond 12 hours, according to animal studies
For decades, athletes and doctors have relied on ice packs and cryotherapy to reduce pain and swelling after injuries.
But while icing is a trusted go-to for pain relief, new research is casting doubt on its role in speeding up healing. Could icing actually delay recovery?
The Study
Cryotherapy, commonly known as applying ice, is often used to cool injured tissue with the aim of reducing pain, limiting further damage, and controlling inflammation.
However, when researchers took a closer look, they found very little evidence from human studies to support the idea that icing speeds up tissue regeneration or prevents secondary injury.
Most of the information on cryotherapy’s effects comes from animal studies, and the results are concerning. In some cases, these studies suggest that icing could actually impair the body’s natural healing processes.
Key Findings
While ice is effective at numbing pain and may reduce bruising (haematoma) immediately after an injury, the long-term benefits are less clear.
The inflammatory process is a crucial part of healing, helping tissues repair and regenerate. Some animal studies indicate that using ice beyond the initial few hours after injury may interfere with these vital processes, potentially delaying recovery or even impairing tissue regeneration.
With human studies still lacking, the exact impact of cryotherapy on muscle injuries in people remains uncertain. The research suggests that while icing within the first six hours of an injury may provide pain relief, using it beyond 12 hours could actually slow down the body’s ability to heal.
What This Means for Athletes and Patients
For now, experts recommend a cautious approach to icing. If you’ve suffered a sprain, strain, or other musculoskeletal injury, using ice to reduce pain in the first six hours can be helpful.
However, after that point, it might be better to let your body’s natural healing processes take over. Instead of aiming to completely eliminate inflammation, the goal should be to support the body in regulating it properly, so that tissue repair can proceed smoothly.
Bottom Line
While ice can be your best friend for immediate pain relief, its benefits beyond the initial hours post-injury are less certain.
Pending more research in humans, it's best to use cryotherapy with caution after 12 hours, as it may interfere with tissue regeneration. Balancing pain management with the body’s natural healing processes is key to a faster, healthier recovery.
Source: https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2024-108304