Further to the article that I wrote: Ice or Heat? (You can read it here...) I also came across an extremely informative article written by Dr. John Zielonka that stresses the importance of using good judgment in the provision of ice or heat for both acute and chronic injuries.
Clinical rationale from the side of the health care provider is extremely important in prescribing the correct, most therapeutic intervention and thus saving our patients from extended disability due to pain. It is too often in our offices we see patients that have been provided the incorrect protocol on icing or heating an injury.