Cold therapy can be used for a wide range of injuries. From muscle pulls to sprained ligaments to recovering from surgery, these injuries can all benefit from the application of cold to the injured area. Ice bags and cold packs have been used to apply the benefits of cold therapy for a long time but a great innovation in cold therapy are cold therapy systems. These systems make icing and applying cold therapy to an injured area far more effective and easier. We here at HPFY can point to a few systems and accessories that may be perfect for your cold therapy needs.
Benefits of Cold Therapy
Most of us have had at least one instance where we have needed to apply ice to an injured area. The most common of these ailments is a sprained ankle or some other joint, but other injuries can also benefit from the application of ice or cold. Often doctors can recommend cold therapy after a sports injury, trauma, and even surgery. Some benefits of cold therapy include:
- Pain Relief
- Reduce Inflammation/Swelling
- Muscle Spasm Reduction
- Decreased Metabolic Rate
- Soothes Sore Muscles
Often top-flight athletes use cold therapy or ice baths to recover quicker from strenuous activities. Cold body therapy has also been linked to better sleep, improved focus, and heightened immune response. You should always consult your physician before undertaking any therapy (cold or otherwise) to make sure it is safe for you to do so.
10 Best Cold Therapy Systems and Accessories For You
Much like putting an ice pack on an injured area, cold therapy systems allow for the application of cold to an injured area but instead of ice they use circulated ice cold water from a reservoir in a cooler (usually) and pump it through an insulated line to a bladder fixed to the injured area. This can allow for longer treatment times without ice melting or icepacks warming. Now that you’ve heard about icing your injury, what type of cold therapy system should you employ? A cursory look at what is available may make your head spin. Which ones are better? Which ones would benefit you the most? These are all valid questions, so let us point to some great options. Some cold therapy systems and accessories you may want to explore are:
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Ideal for drug-free pain relief after surgery or injury, this system features a motorized pump to circulate cold water from a cooler through a line to a bladder specifically designed for the body part that requires icing. The digital timer on/off switch can be set between 30-990 minutes and has a quiet, high-performance brushless pump. This cold therapy system can be used with the universal therapy bladder or some of the body part-specific bladders like the knee compression wrap, lumbar/hip compression wrap, or shoulder compression wrap.
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This unit has integrated cold and compression that is beneficial for decreasing postoperative swelling. With both gravity and motorized cold/compression therapy, it allows for flexible care with anatomically designed cuffs for the knee, shoulder, foot, ankle, and back. It can be your perfect choice for post-op recovery, trauma, athletic training rooms, and at home.
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An easy way to provide 5-8 hours of efficient cold therapy, this cold therapy system offers a compact design for easy portability and is ideal for home use, clinics, and hospitals. The high flow rate results in even pad temperature and the powerful pump optimizes durability. Simply add ice and water to treat conditions such as chronic pain, post-operative recovery, arthroscopic/reconstructive procedures, and much more.
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By using a semi-closed loop circulation system, this unit provides patients and medical professionals with the advantage of controlled delivery of cold therapy to manage post-operative pain and swelling. It is designed and developed directly through patient feedback and interaction with easy portability and storage in mind. The self-priming plug and play operation paired with a complete line of cold pads designed for various injured areas of the body brings efficient, targeted cold therapy to where it’s needed most.
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Designed to allow the user to provide therapeutic hot/cold therapy without manual adjustment, this unit measures and regulates temperature and notifies the user when to add ice or hot water. The lightweight, low profile design allows for both hot and cold therapies and the optional blanket wraps increase insulation and ensure precise placement of blankets. This allows for hot/cold therapy to be applied to all body parts such as the hip and lumbar area or knee and shoulder joints.
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Designed with safety and ease of use in mind, this cold therapy system combines the benefits of cold therapy and controlled compression to treat edema, hematoma, swelling, and pain. The pad is anatomically designed to cover the shoulder area in order to provide maximum cryotherapy to the entire shoulder area. The cooler utilizes a simple, gravity-fed system and the detachable cooler allows for uninterrupted therapy sessions.
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These cold therapy bladders allow for targeted cold therapy to different body parts and are compatible with all Active Ice Systems. With three designs (universal U-shape, universal rectangular shape, and foot-shaped), areas such as the back, knees, shoulders, hips, and ankles can all be specifically targeted for post-surgery cold therapy when serious pain is needed.
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Designed to allow patients to conveniently secure pads to the affected area without using additional wraps or bandages, these wraps are perfect for providing cold therapy after surgical procedures, post-trauma, chronic pain, or physical therapy. They also prevent moisture accumulation outside the wrap and can retain cold against the affected area for a longer-lasting effect making therapy time more efficient. Available for the ankle, back, hip, knee/thigh, and shoulder area and in multiple sizes.
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Ideal for neurological or physical conditions such as multiple sclerosis (MS) where heat can be a trigger, this cooling vest is discrete and can be worn under clothing. The simple, unisex design is adjustable with hook and loop closures at the chest, waist, and shoulders for a comfortable and customized fit. Simply insert the cooling packs into the insulated pockets of the cooling vest that is made from 100% cotton twill and has an insulated outer composite fabric to direct the cooling energy toward the body.
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Clinically proven to temporarily relieve muscle aches and injuries on contact, this system combines the benefits of vibration and cold therapy to improve blood flow and decrease pain and swelling, respectively. It pairs a concave, palm-sized unit with icepacks that are specifically designed to freeze solid and attach securely to the unit. The hands-free strap allows it to be attached securely around the wrist/elbow or the knee/ankle. Simply apply directly to the affected area for 10-20 minutes with both ice and vibration activated for relief of pain and swelling.
We all know that in order to expedite healing from an injury or surgery applying ice or cold therapy can be the first, best step to a quicker recovery. Cold therapy systems are a great and efficient way to get the most out of cold therapy since you can target the injured area with bladders that are specifically designed for that body part. Caution should be taken since these systems can get cold enough to damage the skin if not used properly. Heed any warning your doctor or physical therapist may give you and your recovery will be quicker.
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