Cold therapy or cryotherapy is a technique where the body is exposed to cold temperature. It could be applied to a specific area or whole body cryotherapy. It is proven to be effective for several health conditions.
Ice packs, frozen item packs, and ice cubes are used. But to make the therapy process more efficient and comfortable for the user, an ice therapy machine is the best. It provides targeted treatment to speed up recovery and healing.
What is Ice Therapy Machine?
Both cold therapy and compression procedure is mainly used to treat pain, swelling, and inflammation. Ice therapy machine adds up the benefits of both methods, making the healing process quicker and more restful.
The machine comes with either manual or automatic compression system. Hospitals, clinics, and rehabilitation centers use the machine. But the portable model of ice therapy machine is also available for home use.
How Does It Work?
An ice therapy machine consists of a pad, pumps, reservoir, tubing or hose, and power cord as the basic components.
Ice is filled in the designated ice filling line, followed by the water filling in the selected filling line. The ice therapy machine has pads attached to it through tubing or hose. The cushions are wrapped around the injured part of the body, into which cold water is applied continuously by a cyclic pump. For an electric ice therapy machine, a motor is attached that pumps water through hoses.
The pad perfectly fits the affected part and keeps the pad in the same position.
Why Should Use Ice Therapy?
The benefits of using this technique are diverse, from reducing pain and inflammation to recovering damaged tissues and speeding up the recovery time. Basically, an ice therapy machine is used for treating:
Inflammation and Chronic Pain
If suffering from joint pain, sprain, or strains, an ice therapy machine is ideal equipment. It combines two highly recommended techniques, ice, and compression, used widely for treating injuries.
It reduces chronic pain by decreasing nerve-ending sensitivity and numbing the pain receptors that eliminate the feeling of pain. Also, by helping the inflamed cells to heal faster, the machine aids in relieving inflammation.
Post-Surgical Recovery
Ice therapy is also popular for speeding up the healing process after surgery. The physician might recommend cryotherapy for surgery patients.
Ice therapy machine provides the best way to overcome pain and inflammation related to surgery.
Benefits of Using Cold Therapy Machine
Anyone can get minor to major injury due to an incident or activity. In the same way, people such as athletes who are involved in games and sports can get a sprain or injury. Field practice or performance comes with the risk of falling or injury.
Here ice therapy machine offers relief and quicker recovery for those looking to get healed from injuries. It is considered a more efficient method of cryotherapy than ice packs. It's because the machine provides a consistent level of cold throughout the time, unlike ice packs.
- Relieve Pain and Inflammation
The ice therapy machine is great at providing relief from pain and inflammation. Cryotherapy helps prevent fluid buildup and improves the flow of blood and nutrients to the affected part for better recovery.
It also helps decrease the death rate at which the injured cells die. This enables the tissue to survive for a longer period and reduces the requirement of further repair.
- Reduce Swelling
The response of the immune system causes swelling. As a result, fluid starts to build up and causes swelling. Compression by the machine prevents this fluid and leads to little or no swelling at all.
It also helps stimulate the circulation of the blood, which plays a vital role in speeding up the recovery.
- Muscle and Tissue Repair
Athletes are more prone to muscle damage due to extensive exercise. Ice therapy machines can help accelerate the recovery process by enhancing blood and lymphatic fluid movement to the injury site, bringing more oxygen and nutrients to that part.
Reduced inflammation makes it easy for the immune system to work better to hasten the recovery process.
- Portable and Convenient
Applying ice packs or frozen packs to the injured part can be troubling, especially if it's the knee or shoulder. These also do not control the temperature provided to the affected area.
With its greater health benefits, ice therapy is the best for delivering consistent temperature, ease in carrying the equipment, and comfort to use.
- Fewer Medicines for Pain
It is considered an ideal non-invasive treatment along with medications. As ice therapy works in many ways to quicken up the recovery process, there is a need for fewer medications.
A patient will require a few medicines for these problems with a natural process to combat the pain, inflammation, and swelling.
Tips and Guide for Using an Ice Therapy Machine
These tips can help the user take leverage from the ice therapy machine in the best way.
First, the first talk with the physician about pain management for the ice therapy machine is for you. Use a protective device for your skin and nerves.
- Place a cloth or any other barrier between the skin and an ice pad to protect the skin. The layer should not be so thick that the cold therapy cannot reach the affected area. Look for the moisture on the barrier and change if it's wet.
- Do not apply the ice therapy for more than 20 minutes.
- It is recommended to take 2-3 sessions of ice therapy daily and avoid using the machine too frequently.
- Patients with sensitive skin and cold, circulatory disorders, and severe cardiovascular disease are generally not recommended to use cryotherapy.
- Check the appearance of the skin for any changes. Minor redness is normal. But if the patient feels anything abnormal such as numbness, itching, or burning, stop the therapy and consult the physician.
- Consult your physician if the therapy does not reduce inflammation and swelling within 48 hours.