When you get headaches, muscle aches, or any other unmentioned pains, you instantly take a trip to the first aid kit or refrigerator for something that would provide relief.
Ice packs are the go-to solution for acute inflamed injuries. It is a simple cooling remedy that can simply reduce the swellings and pain. Likewise, heat packs provide that relaxing effect on aching muscles.
When do you use these two remedy packs? In which situations will the ice packs be an optimal remedy? How do you use these two packs appropriately?
Ice Packs vs Heat Packs
Ice Bag for Injuries are those portable bags filled with ice, cold water, refrigerant gel, and other cooling materials. They come in small, portable bags that can either be reused like that produced by Hampton Adams or used just once. Heat packs are like ice packs, but they gently heat the skin and are used for chronic pains.
You may choose to use frozen veggies, groceries, or other homemade ice or heat pack remedies instead of quality ice and heat packs.
However, you should note that these alternatives do not provide the same relief as medically made packs.
Ideal Ice
- Hampton Adams ice and heat packs are flexible enough for a perfect skin fit. Most homemade ice and heat packs are made from zip lock bags and crushed ice or warm water. Hampton Adams Reusable Ice Pack has the fast-flex design that naturally wraps your knees, feet, shoulders, and pelvis and allows you to enjoy that cold or hot therapy you deserve.
- Let’s not even talk about the possible skin burns, and frostbites some brands and DIY Ice or heat packs expose you to. Hampton Adams has unique ice and heat packs that don’t stick to your wounds or require you to get help when you want to get it off your skin.
- With our ice and heat packs, you no longer have to fear leakages or zip lock damages that will put your injury at risk. This is because of our special double-embossed seams that prevent the slightest leakage from slipping through.
- Hampton Adams’ advanced gel infusion and instant overheating properties allow you to enjoy fast relief upon contact with your skin. The small bags of gel or warm liquid are designed to hold temperature longer than homemade ice or heat packs. This allows you to enjoy the longer cooling or heating properties without the need to replace them with more ice or warm water.
- Lastly, our Ice and Heat pack is reusable!
How do they work?
Ice has been used as the go-to relief to treat injuries as it alleviates pain, reduces tissue metabolism, and decreases swelling in acute injuries.
Placing something cold on an inflamed injury causes the surrounding blood vessels, veins, and arteries to constrict, reducing engorged skin. In contrast, heat opens the blood vessels and increases blood throughout the injured tissues.
Heat packs are as helpful as ice packs as they increase circulation, improve the compliance of soft tissues, and relieves pain and spasm.
While ice packs are used after acute injuries, heat packs are used on chronic recurring injuries like back and joint pains that have existed for a long time.
New to Sports?
Everyone is at risk of having one or more injuries during sports.
Sports injuries happen as a result of the overuse or a direct and forceful impact on the body, causing damage to the impacted muscles and surrounding bones. More often than not, this force is greater than what the body can biologically withstand.
Many assume their injuries are either sprain, strains, or fractures, but sports injuries produce different symptoms and complications.
So you may have to widen your self-diagnosis to either dislocation, rotator cuff injury, sciatica, and concussion.
Simple Solutions
The P.R.I.C.E Therapy is a trusted way to increase your recovery process. It is used on minor sprain and strains and guarantees partial or total relief within two or three days.
P.R.I.C.E stands for Protection, Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation.
Protection requires you to guard the injured part using mechanical supports like stretchers or crutches while moving to remove additional pressure off the injured part. Protection also means you should stop all forms of sports or physical activity, especially the sports that led to the injury.
Rest, just as the name implies, requires you to limit your movement totally and focus on healing. If you fail to get enough rest, you might worsen the injury. If you are to move, ensure you avoid pressure by supporting your body’s weight to a perfectly normal limb.
Ice packs are wonderful inventions for a bad sprain or strain as filling an injury reduces the inflammation and relieves pain. They are relatively cheap and can be bought or made using DIY methods at home. Apply Cold Packs for Injuries gently for 15 to 20 mins, and ensure you use a barrier to protect your skin from the ice cubes to avoid frostbites.
Compression involves using elastic compression materials tied tightly around the inflamed part to reduce swelling and keep the bones in place by serving as a support. A correct application of compression bandages should be firm and comfortable and not tingling.
Elevation is the last process in the P.R.I.C.E therapy and demands you raise your leg about the level of your heart to reduce the swelling. It allows the secreted excess fluid to be pumped back into the blood vessel system and will considerably reduce inflammation.
Ice Timing
It is an immediate response to grab the nearest ice cubes or frozen veggies from the refrigerator to cool down your inflamed limb. While this is a nice start to begin healing, the incorrect use of ice packs can cause more harm to the injury.
There are certain guidelines to follow before you begin cooling; hence, it is important to know when to apply an ice pack. Applying an ice pack to the injury within the first 48 hours or immediately after the injury occurs is better.
Anything more than the stated time may require another treatment method. If you have any concerns or questions, speak to a physician.
Ice Application
To make things easier, remember the 20 minutes rule that states you should avoid using a cold compressor or ice packs for more than 20 minutes at a time.
Alternate by icing the injury every 20 minutes and give yourself a 20 to 30 minutes break before putting it on again.
There is no approved number of times to use an ice pack in one day as you can use it as many times as possible; the only important rule to follow is the 20 minutes rule.
Heat Timing
Apply a heat pack 72 hours post-injury to relieve pain.
Heat Application
Like ice packs, there are guidelines to follow when using a heat pack, as using heat for too long or at temperatures too high can cause burns.
The 20-minute rule of ice pack application works for heat packs. You get to sufficiently receive the required warmth that is ideal for relaxing muscle spasms or tight muscles.
Extra Tips
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Don’t apply to acute injuries.
If you are considering which pack to use, remember that immediate injuries demand ice packs, while injuries that have been prevalent for a long time need heat packs. Applying a heat pack to a sports injury increases blood circulation, which can cause internal bleeding and worsen swelling.
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If it causes a fever
While applying a heat pack, you should check your body’s temperature to understand how your body reacts to the treatment. If it results in a fever, you should stop immediately and consult a doctor.
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Do not apply heat packs to compromised skin.
If there is skin compromise, such as an open wound, a wound that has not healed, or skin that is stretched, blistered, burned, or thin, please do not use a heat pack.
Top Quality Products
Do you need good and effective ice and heat packs? Are you tired of the usual ice and heat pack brands that state they provide immediate relief but offer otherwise?
Why not get your Ice and heat packs from Hampton Adams, the leading ice and heat pack brand?
Unlike homemade ice packs, Hampton Adams ice and heat packs are medically designed to provide immense relief within a short time so you can get right back on your feet and enjoy what you love!
