Cold Packs

Cold pack, a very good form of cold therapy, consists of a chemical frozen gel substance that is used by physical therapists to apply on, to treat areas of pain and inflammation for various body parts. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes, according to contour requirements with regards to our specific body parts such as knees or shoulders. It is very useful in treating minor bumps, bruises, muscle aches, strains and sprains on the immediate onset and subsequent pain relief. It greatly helps to treat tension headaches and toothaches, minor burns on our skin, scrapes, cuts, and insect bites, such as bee stings, too. They help to produce vasoconstriction. This means that they help to slow down blood circulation by allowing blood vessels and arteries to go into contraction, thereby reducing blow flow, and hence directly reducing the rate of inflammation, muscle spasm, and alleviating pain.

They are extremely easy to use and convenient enough to carry on trips. Additionally, they can be made quickly by ourselves at home, or we can alternatively purchase them from stores, or pharmacies. Store bought ones are mostly washable, re-useable and some quality ones, such as Coldone, can even last for years. They are convenient to carry around, and portable enough, for outdoor excursions like camping trips and hiking. It is highly recommended to store them at room temperature or in the freezer for optimal performance and preservation.

Best Selling Cold Packs for Pain Relief

“Home made” packs can be made from items found in our freezer! For example, ice bags or bags of frozen peas are cheap, and they can mold relatively well on to the body and are able to last from ten to twenty minutes on the average. Commercial ones which are made up of vinyl-coated silica gel are lighter and they can last up to thirty minutes or so. However, you may get a chemical burn if the chemical leaks out. Therefore, one should be careful and check for leakages, and ideally there should not be any direct contact with your skin and the pack. Here is what you may do: always place a cloth between your skin and it by wrapping it up to avoid skin and ultimately, even nerve damage. Store bought packs tend to be bigger and bulky, thus it will be hard to apply on unintended regions, such as the areas near the eyes. In addition, chemical leakage might also prove to be harmful and hazardous to your eyes. Thus, it is strongly not advisable to apply store-bought packs near sensitive regions, and use it only on the intended regions it was designed for.

For more details on how to use them, refer to our articles on cold pack therapy, where procedures are aptly discussed. While it may be convenient to purchase them and use directly, as opposed to spending time and money to head to the doctors, one should practice caution if the experienced pain is severe and persistent, or if it occurs in sensitive regions such as the eyes. Physical therapists are readily available in most countries and their advice would greatly help to ensure a smooth and speedy recovery from the physical ailments one is suffering from, so do not hesitate if you are unclear of your condition. One should never always solely rely upon self medication.