Cryotherapy is an inexpensive but powerful way to relieve pain and discomfort caused by a number of common ailments and conditions. Known more commonly as "icing," this effectively minimizes aching and soreness.
Selecting the right solution is important for maximizing results. A home remedy, like an ice pack or a bag of frozen vegetables, doesn't always offer consistent benefits, and not every wrap or brace is created equal. Polar Ice is the most reliable and effectual brand available. Here's a bit more on how cryotherapy works and why Polar Ice is your best choice.
How icing works
As Pain Science noted, it's important to remember that cryotherapy doesn't constitute a true treatment when it comes to discomfort. Instead, icing is a powerful solution for alleviating a problem. When recovering from surgery, dealing with an injury or other forms of bodily pain, icing can offer needed relief. However, it doesn't aid the body in healing from a condition.
"The coldness constricts blood vessels."
That doesn't mean that cryotherapy isn't effective. An injury can cause pain in two ways, according to Healthline. Inflammation is the body's natural response to damaged or weakened tissue. The process quarantines an affected area and also initiates the body's own recovery. As such, inflammation is a natural but painful part of being injured, dealing with an ailment or recovering from surgery. Usually, inflammation comes with swelling, which can pull on or compress nearby muscles, ligaments or tendons, creating a second opportunity for discomfort.
Icing reduces the soreness or aching caused by inflammation because it temporarily numbs an affected area and limits the strength of pain signals reaching the brain. At the same time, the coldness constricts blood vessels, and lowers blood flow and fluid build-up. For that reason, cryotherapy is useful in reducing inflammation or swelling and can offer a few moments of relief.
The best applications of cryotherapy
The Department of Anesthesiology Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven found that there are many forms of cryotherapy that represent key solutions for addressing chronic pain. Some may find cryotherapy is helpful in recovering from an event like a surgery or injury, while others can find relief from long-term conditions. A few of the most common applications of cryotherapy include:
- Muscle strains
- Ligament damage
- Surgery recovery and rehabilitation
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Tendonitis
- Arthritis
- Shin splints
- plantar fasciitis
Icing can be helpful when being used either alongside or in place of medications, though it's important to note that broken skin or an abrasion may react negatively to icing. Consult with a doctor about the use of cyrotherapy to learn more about a specific condition or problem.
Why choose Polar Ice
Although there are many options for icing a problem area, some products or solutions offer minimal relief. Others go too far in the other extreme and may cause lasting damage with prolonged use. Some of the most common places you may experience pain can be awkwardly shaped and it's hard to evenly apply a cold compress or ice pack to elbows, knees, ankles and other joints. Gravity can also have a negative effect, pulling the ice or gel away from the affected area as it begins to melt.
Polar Ice products are different because they are designed to conform to a specific area of the body and the unique waffling of the ice pack ensures that the ice stays where you need it.From the small, targeted relief of the Finger Sleeve to the easy-to-adjust CPM Knee Wrap, use these solutions to reduce your pain or discomfort no matter the issue.