Heat and cold therapy are found effective in treating arthritis. They both reduce the stiffness and pain associated with the arthritis. You need to find the best combination which would work the best for you depending on that you could plan your course of action how much of a cold therapy and hot therapy and what following what and when.

The hot packs stimulate the blood circulation by dilating the blood vessels and help you deal with the spasm in the muscles. Also it shifts sensation of pain and relax those tight muscles. You can derive hot therapy from hot packs, heat pads or warm bath. You need to take certain precaution for hot packs, place an extra padding if it’s hot. Make sure your skin is dry and healthy.

Cold therapy is very effective to numb severe pain. They constrict the blood vessels thereby reducing the pain associated with them, it acts like anesthetic it takes away the pain. It is highly effective against inflammation. Cold packs are easily available in markets at any drug shop if unavailable one can just take out anything from refrigerator wrap it under some cloth and use it as a cold pack. Don’t adopt hot or cold therapy in case you have open cuts or sores.