Ice Isn’t Always the Hero We Think It Is ❄️🤕

Whenever my kids get hurt, the very first thing they ask for is ice. And honestly? Most of us grew up believing ice fixes everything.

But here’s a little plot twist…

While ice can help numb pain temporarily, research suggests that icing (and even taking anti-inflammatory meds like Advil) may actually slow down the body’s natural healing process for new injuries. Our bodies use inflammation for a reason — it’s part of how healing gets started.

So if ice isn’t always the answer, what is?

For new or acute injuries, a more helpful approach can be:

Protect
Give the injured area a break for the first 1–3 days. This means limiting movement so you don’t keep irritating the tissue.

Elevate
If possible, elevate the injured limb above heart level to help reduce swelling. Pro tip: this works best when you’re lying down, not sitting.

Compress
Using a bandage or tape can help manage swelling and give the area a bit of extra support.

Ice isn’t “bad” — it can still be useful for short-term pain relief — but it’s not always the magic healing tool we once thought it was.

Your body is pretty smart. Sometimes it just needs a little protection, support, and patience 💛

Wishing you a smooth and speedy recovery!

Mia Dang, PT, is a pelvic physiotherapist with extensive supplementary training in pelvic floor physiotherapy and perinatal care