Deep heat or deep freeze

NWLondoner
NWLondoner Posts: 2,047
edited April 2009 in The bottom bracket
Which do yu find works best for muscle strains?

I got sodding cramp yesterday a few km into my ride and could not shift it. So. Instead of distance I decided to try and increase my LT and do some spinning up some inclines/hills. By the time I got home my left leg was f*ucked.

I had a hot bath then applied some deep freeze. For most of the day I could not walk on that leg.

Just wondering ifvdsep heat is better or no difference.

Comments

  • GavH
    GavH Posts: 933
    I don't find either do any good, a proper hot or cold compress is better. Either way, don't make the mistake I did which was to scratch my nads after applying cold compress and not washing the residue off!
  • Ieuanllan
    Ieuanllan Posts: 152
    I find that time is the only thing that sorts out a proper cramp - about a month ago my calf cramped in the swimming pool, and I could still feel it for about a week!

    For muscle strains I rate the 'Deep Relief' gel - it's got deep-heat type stuff, plus ibuprofen.
    Works for me, despite the name!

    Similar to the cold compress thing, don't scratch you bits after using deep heat either, brings to mind the old rugby changing room shenanigans of dosing up someone's shorts with it before the match... :lol:

    Eat lots of bananas and get way fewer cramps.
  • antfly
    antfly Posts: 3,276
    You could just take an ibuprofen orally,it`s unlikely much of it it will get into your bloodstream through the skin anyway.
    Smarter than the average bear.
  • Frank the tank
    Frank the tank Posts: 6,553
    I was amazed to hear this, but, in order to avoid cramp and to ease the build up of lactate in their muscles the dancers in RIVER DANCE would emerse their legs in ice cold water after each performance.

    I kid you not.

    I prefer a hot soak myself, but those lads and lasses are doing that performance twicf a day.
    Tail end Charlie

    The above post may contain traces of sarcasm or/and bullsh*t.
  • GavH
    GavH Posts: 933
    Frank the tank wrote:
    I was amazed to hear this, but, in order to avoid cramp and to ease the build up of lactate in their muscles the dancers in RIVER DANCE would emerse their legs in ice cold water after each performance.

    I kid you not.

    I prefer a hot soak myself, but those lads and lasses are doing that performance twicf a day.

    Not that amazing, I've heard of plenty of people (and even knew one) who swear by this post-exercise practice. Not my cup of tea AT ALL!!!
  • Stewie Griffin
    Stewie Griffin Posts: 4,330
    GavH wrote:
    Frank the tank wrote:
    I was amazed to hear this, but, in order to avoid cramp and to ease the build up of lactate in their muscles the dancers in RIVER DANCE would emerse their legs in ice cold water after each performance.

    I kid you not.

    I prefer a hot soak myself, but those lads and lasses are doing that performance twicf a day.

    Not that amazing, I've heard of plenty of people (and even knew one) who swear by this post-exercise practice. Not my cup of tea AT ALL!!!

    Cycling + had an article on this some Months ago. Apparently hot baths do nothing to aid recovery at all, which is a shame as I like hot baths (Man hot, not Woman hot where the ceramic bath was beginning to melt). Cold however apparently does help, which is also a shame as I hate it. I can stand in a shower with "cool" water on my legs but my spare hand is always then "protecting" certain parts of me from being splashed. How folk ever take an ice bath I will never know.
  • Stewie Griffin
    Stewie Griffin Posts: 4,330
    edited April 2009
    Edit; I only sent it once, promise.
  • Stewie Griffin
    Stewie Griffin Posts: 4,330
    Rhubarb
  • Sirius631
    Sirius631 Posts: 991
    I was on our club 'holiday' to Majorca recently. After longer rides, we took to standing in the unheated swimming pool, so that the cold water would help increase the circulation, and thus our recovery. Amazing how many others took to doing the same thing by the end of the week.
    To err is human, but to make a real balls up takes a super computer.
  • NaB
    NaB Posts: 105
    NWLondoner wrote:
    Which do yu find works best for muscle strains?

    I got sodding cramp yesterday a few km into my ride and could not shift it. So. Instead of distance I decided to try and increase my LT and do some spinning up some inclines/hills. By the time I got home my left leg was f*ucked.

    Looking back might you agree that trying to 'increase your LT' when experiencing cramp wasn't the best use of your precious training time?
  • RedAende
    RedAende Posts: 158
    Sirius631 wrote:
    I was on our club 'holiday' to Majorca recently. After longer rides, we took to standing in the unheated swimming pool, so that the cold water would help increase the circulation, and thus our recovery. Amazing how many others took to doing the same thing by the end of the week.

    Paula Radcliffe stands in a wheelie bin full of iced water after every training session.
    Red Aende, Red Spesh Hardrock, Wine Mercian, Rusty Flying Scot
  • antfly
    antfly Posts: 3,276
    She also pees in the gutter. :shock:
    Smarter than the average bear.
  • Sirius631
    Sirius631 Posts: 991
    antfly wrote:
    She also pees in the gutter. :shock:

    No, she poos in the gutter.
    To err is human, but to make a real balls up takes a super computer.
  • antfly
    antfly Posts: 3,276
    What are you talking about, I must have missed that one?
    Smarter than the average bear.
  • RedAende
    RedAende Posts: 158
    she did poo in the gutter at london few years ago and finished race with big brown skidmark down the back of her blue bikini briefs, my mate has the photo on his fridge door !
    Red Aende, Red Spesh Hardrock, Wine Mercian, Rusty Flying Scot
  • Ruari
    Ruari Posts: 217
    Dear oh dear, I know this is getting way off topic, but I found this link in road begginers, never mind pooing inthe gutter!

    clicky http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discu ... 441&start= :shock:
    FCN 1
  • antfly
    antfly Posts: 3,276
    RedAende wrote:
    she did poo in the gutter at london few years ago and finished race with big brown skidmark down the back of her blue bikini briefs, my mate has the photo on his fridge door !

    I find that hard to believe, if it`s true it`s bloody disgusting.
    Why would anyone want the picture on the fridge unless it is to put them off their food?
    Smarter than the average bear.
  • RedAende
    RedAende Posts: 158
    the gutter press (pun intended) said she pee'd herself but Runners World published a thumbnail pic showing she shat herself.
    Red Aende, Red Spesh Hardrock, Wine Mercian, Rusty Flying Scot
  • RedAende
    RedAende Posts: 158
    Paula on you tube

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6I2-YP4 ... re=related

    Google paula poo's, theres loads of it, bet Nicole Cooke wouldn't behave like that, not in white shorts anyway.
    Red Aende, Red Spesh Hardrock, Wine Mercian, Rusty Flying Scot
  • antfly
    antfly Posts: 3,276
    So she probably did it in her pants {we`ve all done that occassionally} rather than squat in the gutter and took a big dump.Somebody should ask her if she`s been to the loo before she leaves the house in future.

    Thanks but i`d rather not google Paula`s poo, seeing that pee was quite enough.
    Smarter than the average bear.
  • beverick
    beverick Posts: 3,461
    Anyway, back to the initial posting.

    The general advice is to rest a strain (ie muscle tear) and flex a sprain. Both can be treated with anti-inflamatories and the usual 'RICE' (rest, ice. compression, elevate) treatment.

    I gave the medics an interesting canundrum a few years ago when I broke a bone in my foot and dislocated my ankle. The break needed potting but the dislocation needed the opposite. In the end I just had a tight cast applied which I had to wear when I was putting weight through the joint.

    Bob

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