Shoulder Pain - Ice or Heat? (which is better for pain relief?)

If you've been struggling with shoulder pain, you might be wondering if it's better to use ice for pain relief vs. using heat for pain relief.

The answer to that question really depends on two things:

- What's causing your shoulder pain?

- What are you hoping to accomplish?

For example, if you have rotator cuff tendonitis, you might favor ice.

And if you have rotator cuff tendinosis, you might favor heat.

At other times, it might be beneficial to use BOTH ice and heat in the same day.

Again, it really comes down to the cause of your shoulder pain, as well as what you hope the ice/heat will do for you.

In this video, I'll explain how to determine which will work best for you, including how to determine if you should be using both heat and ice.

I hope it helps! Please leave questions and comments below :-)

- Luke Gordon, DPT
Doctor of Physical Therapy/Owner of Gordon Physical Therapy

[reepicheepsfriend]

I appreciate that you take the time to share this information publicly. I have been in and out of medical care for over a year, to no avail, but I am finally understanding what I have through online resources like yours. I don’t know why the medical professionals I’ve seen weren’t able to explain it so clearly. Anyway I am doing the best I can now based on the information I have. Thanks again.

[citadelbuenoalvissi]

The pain I'm experiencing is from my nape, to my shoulder and right arm. It's been a week already and I don't want to endure it for a long time. Thank you for the information I got from you. Hopefully, it will remove my shoulder pain.

[glorytogod]

Dr. Gordon. I remember your video about tendonosis, which was similar to this one. I've been using heat as you recommended and I know God is using you to change lives like mine.
I had tendonosis in both shoulders and the heat is curing me up to this day. I will DEFINITELY be contacting your office when I get my settlement within the next month or two. If people can pay for Tele visits, they can also pay for life-changing YouTube videos! God bless you, your family and your practice. Mark my you WILL be hearing from me soon 🙏🏽 THANK YOU

[mariomontoya]

Thanks a million Doctor. I will definitely try both for my right shoulder pain that has been going on for a couple of years now.

[monyabARTon]

Thank you for this! I paint and after using my arm wrong all day I hurt. I just joined the gym to help me correctly strengthen my shoulder blade muscles. I identified with 4:50 minute about when it starts to creep up the neck and give slight headaches. I’ve never had headaches so I know it stems from this

[carlorocky]

I didn’t do much in order to hurt my shoulder. All I did was some floor stretches as do regularly. Pain on the side of shoulder and slightly anterior. High intensity pain, can hardly move my arm. Three days now and I’ve finally went for a heating pad and two aspirin. I hope this clears up quickly. Thank you for your video.

[mashopaneshopane]

Thank you so much for this. My mom and I have been complaining about shoulder pain for 2full weeks now. And its just constant throughout the day and night. Will definitely try the heat treatment.

[christianbishyika]

Thank you, this is what I wanted to hear for my case.

[felixfrance]

Thanks a lot .You have been à tremendous help for me by your very explicite explications.

[oluwaseyia]

I'm getting relieved with Ice. Thank you

[AfyaaB]

Thank you so much that was really helpful!

[MOAB-UT]

Good clear tips. My shoulder issue has been going on for over 1 month now. I think I got it from starting wide grip pull ups. I have been heating (mostly hot shower) and then stretching. Nothing is particularly acute- just certain movements like reaching up above my head with thumb pointed outwards is still pretty uncomfortable. I can do nearly all other full range movements with very little pain. My worse pain is maybe 3 out of 10 and I sleep fine fortunately. At this point, do you think I fall more into the heat category? I bought one of those shoulder slip wraps that has a gel insert (120F)- should I keep it on for 20 minutes a few times a day before stretching?

I also heard that gently hanging from a pull up bar is a great stretch. I keep my feet lightly on the ground. I've been doing these too- don't notice a big difference but it's definitely not any worse.

THANKS!

[tyvid]

Thanks for the useful video mate.
I have dual shoulder tendonosis that flared up severely after a hard gym session two months ago when taking high dose Prednisolone (masked all my pain - unintentional as using for other reason).
Since then I had a Cortisone injection one side and have iced it several times.
Ice doesn't resolve it. Heat definitely helps but I am worried it masks the injury and when training I can falsely think my shoulder is okay. Only when cooling down do I then suffer the consequences!! Maybe heat ... with caution.

[AndrewsGuitarChannel]

Thanks for the great advise.. Owing to the Covid Omicron wave, I cancelled my physio appointments, and now my shoulder pain is flaring up. I am starting to find out that heat really helps but so can ice. So I guess its heat to heal and iced to drop the inflammation from over use.

[SuperBeetox]

This is a natural body response called Inflammation ( with "itis" at the end of the word. With the thefour cardinal signs of inflammation I use cold pack for as long as inflammation persist. Prolong cold application can produce vasodilation by Shuntting effect on our blood vessels...

[nativetube]

That was a bit confusing but helpful buddy, thank you

[coolvideos]

Wet useful info. Thanks 🙏

Would I do the same for ongoing hip bursitis?

[dilips]

Hi Doc..plz confirm what would be good for treatment of frozen shoulder
Ice pack or heat pack?

[quantumuniverse]

I feel cold and pain in my upper back shoulder therefore I always have to wear a jacket even in the summer or I have to lie down on my back to keep it warm please let me what should I do I have this pain more than 12 years please help me thank you.

[sumitghoshal]

Can I use Orthopaedic heat belt for frozen shoulder?