5. Hot and cold therapy
A heating pad can help relieve pain while you rest your knee. Cold treatment can help reduce inflammation.
Here are some tips for applying hot and cold therapy:
- Alternate between hot and cold.
- Apply heat for a maximum of 20 minutes at a time.
- For the first two days after the injury, apply cold compresses for 20 minutes, four to eight times a day.
- Use a gel pack or other cold pack more often for the first 24 hours after the injury.
- Never apply ice directly to the skin.
- Check that the heating pad is not too hot before applying it.
- Do not use heat therapy if the joint is hot during a flare.
- A hot shower or bath in the morning can ease joint stiffness.
Paraffin wax and capsaicin-containing ointments are other ways to apply heat and cold.