cold therapy


cold therapy

A general term for the use of ice or cold compresses for therapeutic purposes; locally applied ice increases the circulation and relieves pain, and is of use in acute trauma. Practitioners of alternative therapies may advocate alternating ice and heat, as it is believed to “flush” a region with fresh blood.

cold ther·a·py

(kōld thār'ă-pē) A type of care in which ice or cold water is applied to a body part.
Synonym(s): cryotherapy.