PT Handbook: Ice for Pain Relief, Not Healing

Welcome! The PT Handbook is a physical therapy newsletter discussing all things physical therapy/sports medicine. This newsletter is an extension of our philosophy at Art of PT Sports Physical Therapy LLC where our patient population includes exercise lovers and the everyday athlete. We are a PT private practice that prides itself on providing true one on one service.

This handbook will provide practical PT tips and dive into hot topics surrounding the sports rehab world. If you have questions about the field of physical therapy or need to schedule an appointment (virtual/in person), contact us with the link below!

Dr. Gerry Robles PT, DPT

Founder, Art of PT Sports Physical Therapy LLC

www.artofpt.com

PT Handbook Conversation: Ice for Pain, Movement for Healing

Ah yes, Ice. Everyone’s favorite for pain or injury. But does it actually help with the healing process? Nope.

We’ve all heard “just put some ice on it,” but let’s be clear: ice helps with short-term pain relief, not long-term healing. Research shows that while cryotherapy can temporarily reduce inflammation and numb discomfort, it does not enhance tissue repair or accelerate recovery. In fact, overuse of ice may even blunt the body’s natural inflammatory response which is an essential part of healing (Bleakley et al., 2012). That’s why we’re moving past the old R.I.C.E. model and embracing a more active, functional approach to rehab.

Movement is medicine. Gentle, progressive loading promotes circulation, stimulates tissue remodeling, and improves neuromuscular control. All these are crucial for recovery. Whether it’s early mobility after injury or guided exercises in rehab, movement drives adaptation. A study by Dubois & Esculier (2019) emphasizes replacing “rest” with “optimal loading” to support healing without deconditioning. So next time you reach for the ice pack, ask yourself: am I soothing, or am I healing? Because when it comes to recovery, motion is more powerful than numbness.

PS- I put together a little list of recovery tools I recommend to clients. Simple tools, nothing fancy. But there’s so many ways to use them which is the crazy part. And if you don’t know where to start with these, just email me! Click the amazon link below 🙂 

^{(Affiliate Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.)}

Anyways, stop icing so much, talk soon

Dr. Gerry Robles PT, DPT

Founder, Art of PT Sports Physical Therapy LLC

www.artofpt.com