Forums >Running 101>Hot vs. cold?
I have bursitis in my hip, and I'm wondering whether I should use hot or cold for it? Cold seems to help, but so does hot. Should I use both?
Both. If you've had an injury for a while sometimes it responds to alternating hot/cold therapy. You might try hot water alternated with cold in the shower for 5min/5min or alternate hot and cold packs. Hope you feel better soon.
"Shut up Legs!" Jens Voigt
Neither hot nor cold is going to penetrate very far into your body, but alternating therapy might increase blood flow to the area. I think the only heat that reaches more than 1/4" or so into your body is in the form of ultrasound therapy (home kits don't penetrate very far), and there's no way to get cold to penetrate very far.
60-64 age group - University of Oregon alumni - Irreverent and Annoying