“Put an ice pack on it!” If you grew up playing sports (or have kids who play them), this is a familiar refrain, repeated whenever someone gets injured. Sometimes, the quickest way to ease the pain from a sprained ankle or torn muscle is to cover the area with ice. It’s a short-term solution that doesn’t take the place of medical care when you need it—but in a pinch, ice can be a real lifesaver.
Heat therapy can also be a useful tool for soothing pain. People with arthritis often rely on warm baths or compresses to ease morning stiffness and help their joints move freely. But heat isn’t a foolproof treatment, either, and it can be detrimental when used on an acute injury (like a soccer game sprain) or active infection.