When should I use cold therapy?
For recent injuries: Cold therapy is often used during the first 48 hours of an
injury. Place Soft-Ice® on the injured area using a cloth or any of our cold
therapy wraps to help protect your skin from freezer burn or frostbite. Most
doctors recommend using cold therapy for 20 minute intervals to relieve pain and
reduce swelling.
Cold therapy can also be effective beyond 48 hours and with chronic pain.
Personal preference often dictates the use of cold or heat therapy in these
situations. See our many cold therapy and compression wraps.
How long does your product stay cold?
Our therapy cold packs are not designed to "stay cold". They are designed to
stay soft and absorb heat quickly. Ice therapy requires that as much heat is
drawn from the effected area within the first twenty minutes as possible.
Soft-Ice® optimizes therapy by providing approximately 20 minutes of effective
cold therapy.
How long will the packs last?
SoftIce® is designed to transfer heat with no chemical reactions taking place.
The pack will work as long as there is no physical damage to it.
Are heat and ice therapy effective at providing relief of pain?
Yes. From The Johns Hopkins White Papers Arthritis (1995 P.9) "Warm compresses
may relieve pain and ease stiffness by relaxing muscles. Heat treatments may
also improve subsequent ability to exercise. In some people, however,
application of cold packs provides better relief of pain, especially when pain
and inflammation follow activity. Warm compresses or ice should be applied for
no longer than 20 minutes. Ice should be wrapped in a towel and removed when the
area becomes numb."
See our Soft Ice cold & hot therapy products
Yes. From The Johns Hopkins White Papers Low Back Pain (1995 P.26) "Pain relief
may be obtained from the immediate application of ice after a sudden back injury
that causes localized pain. In addition to relieving pain, ice reduces internal
bleeding and swelling by decreasing blood flow. Commercial cold packs should be
used for 10 to 20 minutes every 2 waking hours for 48 hours. In order to avoid
frostbite, ice applications should not be left in place long enough to numb the
skin. It is best to wait 48 hours before applying heat after an acute back
injury. However, muscle relaxation from a hot, moist compress may ease chronic
back pain or a more widespread backache that starts some time after a back
injury." See our Back Pain Therapy Kit!
Yes. From The Johns Hopkins White Papers Arthritis- Treatment of Bursitis (1995
P.47, 48) "A suspected case of bursitis can safely be treated at home. Apply ice
packs to the affected area for 20 minutes every hour or two to help reduce pain
and swelling. After 48 hours, use heat to stimulate blood flow and help ease the
pain."
When should I use moist heat therapy?
Moist heat therapy is often used with chronic injuries. Moist heat increases
circulation and speeds recovery by bringing in fresh blood cells and removing
wastes. Moist heat therapy can be effective in treating back pain caused by
muscle strains and spasms. Arthritic and thematic pain is, also, often
temporarily relieved with the use of moist heat. Apply the Thera-Temp® moist
heat pack to the injured area for twenty minutes, repeating as needed. See our
microwaveable moist heat wraps.
For recent injuries:
Thera-Temp® moist heat packs can be used after the first 48 hours and after
swelling has gone down. It is usually a good idea to use both ice and heat
therapy during this time, alternating ice and heat therapy sessions. Therapy
sessions should last for twenty minutes intervals.
What is the difference between moist and dry heat?
Moist and dry heat are the most common therapeutic treatments for superficial
heat therapy. However, moist heat is more effective than dry heat in providing
deeper penetration of the tissue at the same temperatures. Moist heat also has
additional capacity to change the tissue temperature rapidly and obtain more
vigorous response from temperature receptors. Patients often report greater
relief of symptoms from moist heat. See our microwaveable moist heat wraps.
How does moist and dry heat compare?
Comparison of moist and dry heat therapy indicates that the advantages of moist
heat over dry heat are:
Moist heat is more effective than dry heat in deeper tissue heating
Moist heat penetrates more than dry heat at the same temperature
Moist heat has additional capacity to change the tissue temperature rapidly and
obtain more vigorous response from temperature receptors
Patients often report greater relief of symptoms from moist heat
Moist heat is preferred over dry heat as a treatment or component of the
treatment for the following conditions:
Pain, stiffness and secondary muscle spasm in chronic arthritis
Acute temporomandibular joint closed lock condition
Pain and muscle spasm on posterior neck and back in patients with ankylosing
spondolytis
Pain and muscle tension in the acute and chronic phases of regional myofascial
pain syndrome in children
Moist heat can be effective in temporary relief of pain for the following
conditions:
Degenerative Joint Diseases
Sub acute and Chronic Arthritis Conditions
Diseases of Temporomandiblar Joint
Periathritis and Bursitis
Soft Tissue Trauma, Traumatic Arthritis
See our microwaveable moist heat wraps.
I get migraines and headaches, can your products help?
Cold therapy, applied to the head or neck, has been proven to help reduce
migraine headache pain. Some people also find temporary relief with moist heat
therapy to the head or neck. We recommend our Headache and Migraine kit to find
the combination that works best for you.
I have arthritis, what would you suggest?
Sub acute and Chronic Arthritic Conditions: Superficial heat applications are
valuable in relieving pain, stiffness, and secondary muscle spasm in conditions
such as chronic arthritis. Ice therapy, in some people, helps relieve the pain.
From Arthritis Today, July-Aug 2000, "Drug-Free, All-Natural Power Over Pain"
pages 35-38 "Packing' Heat - Just about everybody can use a quick fix for pain
now and then. Exports told us that applications of warm, moist heat may do the
trick." See our Thera-Temp® microwaveable moist heat.
From Arthritis Today, July-Aug 2000, "Drug-Free, All-Natural Power Over Pain"
pages 35-38 "Give it the Cold Shoulder - If swollen inflamed joints are making
life miserable, then just chill out, experts say. Applying something cold to
those angry spots can decrease pain and swelling by restricting the blood
vessels and preventing fluids from leaking into the surrounding tissues." Soft
Ice cold & hot therapy products
Can hot and cold therapy be effective for repetitive strain injuries such as
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Trigger Finger, Tennis Elbow, and etc.?
Yes, see the following references.
From Postgraduate Medicine (Oct. 1997) Repetitive Strain Injury. The Goff Group
"Use of ice packs, massage, NSAIDs, or topical pain relief agent is often
helpful."
Roller Ice cold therapy massage
From Prime Care (June 1994) Department of Family and Community Medicine, College
of Medicine, U of Arizona Tucson "Most occupational musculoskeletal disorders
respond to conservative measures such as ice or heat."
From American Family Physician (Feb. 1992) Occupational Repetitive Strain Injury
University of Alberta, Edmonton "Common injuries involving the elbow, wrist and
hand include epicondylitis, carpal tunnel syndrome and ulnar nerve entrapment.
Conservative treatment consisting of rest, application of ice or heat and
anti-inflammatory drugs is usually effective."
Cold & Hot Wrist Wraps; Cold & Hot Elbow Wraps
References: (Partial Listing)
Nanneman,. D.: Thermal Modalities: Heat and Cold. A Review of Physiologic
Effects with Clinical Applications. Clinical applications. AAOHN Journal, 39
(2): 70-75, 1991.
Lehmann, J. F., Warren, C. G., and Scham, S. M.: Therapeutic Heat and Cold.
Clinical Orthopedics and Related Research, March- April (99): 207-245, 1974.
Chung, S. C., Kim, H. S.: The Effect of the stabilization splint on the TMJ
closed lock. Cranio. 11 (2): 95-101, 1993.
Tepperman, P. S., Devlin, M.: Therapeutic Heat and Cold. A practitioner’s guide.
Postgraduate Medicine. 73 (1): 69-76, 1983.
Lindsey, B.: Patient Care Guidelines.: Cold and heat application in
muscloskeletal injury. J. Emergency Nursing. 16 (1): 54-56, 1990.
Simpson, C. F.: Heat, Cold, or Both? Am. J. Nursery. February: 271-272, 1983.
Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions. Baltimore, MD. White Papers. 1995.
Body Cooling Systems
How does the two leading cooling sysems compare - Polar and Steele?
What is the difference between the many different types of body cooling
systems available?
There are many different cooling products available and the best one for you
depends on your personal situation, activity and environment. We recommend you
consult your health care professional prior to purchasing a cooling garment or
system.
A summary of the systems: Evaporative
Cooling Power: Low*
Cost: Very Low
(*depending on humidity and outside variables) Cold packs
Cooling Power: High Cost: Low to Medium Phase Change
Cooling Power: Medium
Cost: Medium Active Cooling
Cooling Power: Very High
Cost: High to Very High
Evaporative Cooling: These products come in an assortment of garments
that fit a wide variety of locations on the body. They are soaked in water to
charge special polymer materials built into the garments. As the water
evaporates (sometimes over several days), the garment provides surface cooling.
These systems are typically low cost and light weight.Advantages
Low cost, light weight
works for an extended period of time Disadvantages
requires wetting of garment
loses effectiveness in higher humidity
Cold pack cooling: These products typically come in vests, neck coolers
and wrist coolers. The products work by incorporating cold packs into pockets of
the wraps. The cold packs are placed in a freezer or a refrigerator until ready
for use and then are placed in pockets designed into the wraps. The packs will
stay cold for 2 to 4 hours depending on environmental conditions.Advantages
medium cost, no wetting required
effective for 2-4 hours, highest cooling capacity
works in all environments
adjustable cooling with more / less packs
extra packs easily carried for extended cooling Disadvantages
requires access to freezer / refrigerator
requires time for packs to freeze
medium weight: 4-5 lbs.
Phase Change Cold Pack Cooling: These products are similar to the cold
pack systems only use a phase change polymer in the cold packs or the garment.
This technology controls the release of temperature to a specific range through
out the cooling cycle. A typical temperature is 58 degree F. Phase change cold
packs may be recharged in the freezer, refrigerator or in ice water. Advantages
charges in ice water, refrigerator, freezer
wetting not required, effective for 2-3 hours
provides moderate cooling temperature
works in all environments
extra packs easily carried for extended cooling Disadvantages
Higher cost system, high cost of spare packs
Lower cooling efficentcy than cold packs
medium weight: 5-7 lbs.
medium cooling capacity
Active Cooling: These products typically incorporate a coolant, often ice
water, that is circulated from a reservoir by a pump system through channels or
tubes embedded in a vest. Often a hood for the head is incorporated into the
system also. The temperature of the circulating coolant usually can be adjusted.
The system operates on batteries, house or car current. This type of system will
provide many hours of cooling before the ice and water needs to be recharged.
Advantages
Most effective cooling - core body cooling
adjustable cooling temperature
extended cooling time between recharges
no wetting required, works in all environments
light weight garments Disadvantages
very high cost system
tethered system limits mobility
requires ice water reservoir
