Hot and Cold
Applying heat to muscles or cold to swollen jints can help ease pain and inflammation. For many people, alternating heat and cold works well. But each person is different so arthritis sufferers will need to experiment. Before beginning, it’s important to check with a physician, as some conditions might mean one or the other is inappropriate.
Types of heat applications include heat lamps, heating pads, hot water bottles, and gel packs. Types of cold applications include bags of frozen vegetables, or ice wrapped in a towel, cold packs, and vapocoolant sprays.