Reusable Ice Bags: A modern take on an old stand-by technique
If you’ve pulled or strained a muscle, had a sprain, or an impact soft tissue injury, it’s been long known that using ice can help reduce swelling. But it also has so many more benefits! By reducing blood flow, ice therapy can minimize inflammation which causes pain, as well as numbing nerves, which also temporarily reduces pain. Chronic repetitive stress injuries can also benefit from ice therapy (or cryotherapy).
Icing an old or chronic repetitive injury after strenuous exercise can help minimize future flare-ups.
Recurring Injuries that can benefit from Ice Therapy
- Arthritis Flare-ups caused by inflammation
- Shin Splits
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Tendonitis (tennis elbow and jumper’s knee)
- Other recurring or “overuse” injuries
Purchase Kinship Comfort Brands Ice Bags
Swelling that will not go down, pain worsening and difficulty with movement are all signs to see a doctor.
Favorite Tips on properly icing an injury
- Applying ice as soon as possible gives the best results
- Avoiding direct contact with skin is key, to avoid skin damage
- 10-20 minutes of icing is recommended, with at least an hour between icing
- Do not restart the activity right away! Allow 2-3 days recovery after an injury or flare-up.
There are so many different ways to use ice therapy nowadays. From classic application with an ice bag to whole body cryochambers, here are some of the ways you can use ice to help:
Types of Ice Therapy
- Ice packs or bags, Frozen gel packs
- Coolant Sprays
- Ice Baths
- Ice Massage
- Cryostretching – use of ice while stretching to reduce muscle spasms
- Cryokinetics – for ligament sprains, using cold and exercise in combination
- Cold therapy whole-body chambers
Who should avoid Ice Therapy
People with sensory disorders should use caution with ice therapy, as they may not be able to feel the damage. Diabetes can also result in sensitivity loss and nerve damage. Anyone with poor circulation is also advised not to practice ice therapy.
If symptoms don’t improve within 2 days of injury, you should likely seek medical attention. Swelling that will not go down, pain worsening and difficulty with movement are all signs to see a doctor.
Additional Resources on Ice Therapy
Ice Therapy can be a fantastic way to improve pain and swelling when injured. If you’d like more information, please check out the following articles:
Treating Pain with Heat and Cold