Ice Massage

Definition: A local application of cold (ice bar) over a body segment.

“When the body has long remained in contact with cold substances, such as cold air and cold water, the real effects of the cold are seen. If the body becomes thoroughly chilled, its various functions are slowed and depressed....If instead of becoming chilled, the body remains in contact with cold air or water for only a brief time, its activities are heightened instead of slowed or depressed.”

The Physiological Effects of an Ice Massage:

The blood flow to the part being massaged is greatly decreased at first, then greatly increased with exercise after the ice massage.The cold causes contraction of the blood vessels. As a consequence the part cools deeply since circulation is prevented from warming the part with fresh warm blood.The metabolism of tissues when cooled is decreased according to the Van’t Hoff principle. That is the use of oxygen and all nutritional substances as well as the production of carbon dioxide and all waste products is decreased. But more important cellular activity is decreased including that of the nerves. Thus there is a decrease of sensation and even anesthesia. Since pain sensation is decreased the part treated with ice massage can be exercised, stretched and massaged, where as without the cold treatment there would be too much pain.

Recommendation and precautions:

This treatment should not be given when the patient is cold. Also patients with stroke, rheumatoid arthritis, and shoulder-hand syndrome should not receive this treatment.

Procedure:

1. It is important that you do not rub the ice directly over a bone prominence, and that the patient does not get chilled.

2. When this treatment is given to the back it is recommended that the patient lie on his stomach with a pillow under the abdomen and another under the feet, with a small towel or pad under the face. The patient should be draped except for the part of the body being treated. Do not allow the patient to get chilled.

3. Take the ice out of the container and with the free hand begin to rub the area followed by the ice. Rub the ice in a massaging motion over the painful area and a little ways away from it on all sides, always keeping the ice in continuous motion.

4. The patient will experience four stages.
a. Cold uncomfortable sensation.
b. Burning feeling.
c. Aching of a short duration.
d. Relative numbness after about 7-10 minutes. The area should be pink in color.
e. When stage four (d) is reached the treatment is terminated.

5. Following the ice rub the patient should do resistive exercises for the area treated. This should involve every muscle around the painful part of the body. This is the most valuable part of the treatment.

Black Hills Health and Education center is a medical wellness retreat offering wellness programs and lifestyle change in a beautiful setting of the Black Hills in South Dakota. Lifestyle centers offering lifestyle programs such as are offered at BHHEC are known by several different names among which are: Lifestyle Center, Wellness Spa, Medical Wellness Resort, Medical Wellness Spa.

The Black Hills Health and Education center is unique in that it offers a Christian based lifestyle program that includes everything from Lodging and meals, physicals and comprehensive blood work to daily treatments, exercise sessions with a personal trainer in the gym, classes presented by physicians, exercise director,(Dick Nunez) and other staff, cooking classes, sightseeing tours (Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Custer State Park Wild Animal Game preserve) and aquatics classes at the lovely swim center in Rapid City. Also included are counseling and stress-relief classes.

CLICK HERE to Visit Black Hills Health and Education Center Website

	Add your comment here... Your Name:  Add Comment Before being published on our web site, your comments will be reviewed by our staff. Only appropriate comments pertaining to this article will be considered. Your IP address will be logged -- please do not abuse our comment system.