Using Hot and Cold Therapy to Relieve Joint Pain - Arthritis Center

Using Hot and Cold Therapy to Relieve Joint Pain - Arthritis Center - Everyday Health: Hot and cold therapy each have their own appropriate uses. You should never apply heat to a joint that is already hot, red, and irritated, for example, nor should you apply cold to a joint that's stiff and not moving well. Remember, heat helps muscles relax; cold helps to minimize inflammation and pain.