Ankle Ligaments

[karen.hankey]

Thanks for this explanation for the effect of ice-application. Do not forget that after a while the nerves conduction speed decreases as response of the ice-application (= pain reduction) and after a while you get a vasodilatation (because the vasoconstrictic muscles need nerve activity to contract).

The question was more about the effect of changing between ICE and HEAT. Any good explanation why we should do this (beside: 'I have good results with this method in practice')

Thanks Adriaan

Swelling is removed through the lymph system. To pump the swelling centrally to allow it to enter the venous system and there be removed relies on the muscle-pump system. This mean that muscles action squeezing on the lymph vessel pushes the fluid centrally. However, in acute injuries patients tend not to want to move around due to too much pain so this is not an option in these cases.

Due to the close proximity of blood vessels to the lymph ones you can achieve this muscle pump action by vasoconstricting and vasodilating the blood vessels which in turn allows the pressure to the lymph vessels as detailed above.

Hope I made that clearer.

[Adriaan]

Hope I made that clearer.

Thanks for your explanation.

On first sight it seems very logic, and I agree with you that the lymphatic system must be stimulated. In normal circumstances, the muscle-pump system is indeed ONE of the systems to do this. But when you have an ankle distortion, there is a(n) (small) inflammation. So adding heat to an already warm/hot articulation wouldn't be my first thought. (But maybe if you change it with cold, it can have a good effect)

Next to this, lymphatic drainage is also effective against swelling. This is a technique where you give a (small) pressure (40 mmHg) with a special technique. So I still think compression, even when the swelling is already there, is effective.

Greetings, Adriaan