SHOULD WE UTILIZE ICE FOLLOWING ORTHOBIOLOGIC PROCEDURES?

Ice applications have been used for centuries to decrease pain and inflammation following orthopedic procedures and musculoskeletal injuries. While there is merit to using ice, more recent advancements in research and recovery have cast doubt on the efficacy of icing. Namely, concerns over suppressing the natural healing process have steered many clinicians away from the routine use of ice. This article presents a balanced perspective on both the merits and limitations of existing research on the use of ice. Recommendations for post-procedural management of patients following orthobiologic procedures and the cellular niche arepresented.