Hot or cold? How to know whether to use a warm compress or a cold compress

January 15, 2025

Aches and pains, inflammation, sports injuries, stress or tension relief? The most popular question we are asked is which symptoms call for a cold compress and which require a hot or warm compress.

Here are a few guidelines to help you make the right choice, as well as solutions for specific ailments:

Use cold treatment for inflammation and swelling, as well as acute injuries or pain. An acute pain or injury is one that started up or occurred within the past day or two. It is usually the result of a sudden pain or trauma. Symptoms may include pain, tenderness, redness, warm skin and swelling. A cold compress reduces inflammation and eases pain by numbing the affected area.

Use heat therapy for chronic or recurring aches, muscle pain or stiffness. Chronic aches or injuries are those you’ve had for a long time. The pain may not be constant but may recur frequently. A hot or warm compress brings more blood to the area where it is applied. It will help reduce joint stiffness and muscle spasms and relieve tightness in muscles.

Here are suggestions for specific uses:

Ailment	Hot or Cold therapy?
General Aches	Relieve the pain with a warm or hot compress.
Swelling and inflammation	Use a cold compress to ease and reduce these symptoms.
Sports injuries	Consider the type of injury (acute versus chronic) and the timing of treatment (before or after the workout). Apply a cold compress on acute injuries and post-workout. Use a hot compress as part of your warm-up and on chronic injuries.
Headache	People with severe headaches or migraines often prefer a cold compress applied to the forehead or temples to help numb the pain. Otherwise, a warm compress applied to the shoulders, or back of the neck and head may help bring relief.
Stomach Aches and Cramps	Relieve the pain with a warm or hot compress.
Arthritis	Patients can benefit from both hot and cold therapy. Cold for swelling and acute pain; heat for joint stiffness.
Stress and Tension	Heat therapy can really help relieve stress and emotional tension that tends to store in our muscles.

Knowing when to use cold therapy or heat therapy will significantly increase the success of the treatment. Bookmark this page so you’re in the know the next time you’re looking for relief! Looking for hot or cold compress to meet your needs? Check out our complete Magic Bag line of hot/cold compresses.