Hot and Cold Therapy Products
Hot and Cold Therapy Products have been found to be effective in relieving pain and treating joints and muscles. Cold therapy helps by slowing the blood flow to the area thereby reducing swelling and inflammation and the accompanying pain. It also helps to reduce nerve impulses in that area which reduces the sensation of pain. Heat or Warming therapy helps by increasing blood flow which accelerates healing. It also provides a stimulus to the ne
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Hot and Cold Compress Features To Consider
Vitality Medical carries many hot and cold packs that require no electricity and are shelf-stable for years, making them an ideal addition to any first aid kit, hiking backpack, or sports medicine treatment bag. Other options are reusable and either warmed up or frozen prior to use.
Anatomically Specific
Due to their location, some areas of the body are difficult to apply hot and cold packs long enough to obtain all the benefits from the therapy. For these instances, Vitality Medical features a line of products designed for specific parts of the body, such as the Champion Compress cold and heat pack for the back of the ankle and foot.
Chemically Activated
Chemically activated cold packs, like the Performance Instant Cold Pack, are an excellent choice for first aid and sports medicine kits due to their instant use and portability. These packs contain a chemical such as ammonium nitrate that is activated by squeezing the bag and shaking. They are single-use and remain cold for approximately 30 minutes, depending upon the brand.
Much like their cold pack counterparts, chemically activated hot packs will remain shelf-stable provided they remain airtight in their package, making them a perfect component for emergency and sports medicine kits. Instant heat packs usually contain the active ingredient magnesium sulfate, which generates heat for about 20 minutes. These packs are also great to have in cold weather.
Reusable cold packs come in two varieties. Reusable packs like the Fabrication Enterprises Reusable Neck Cold Pack use water and some other chemical, usually propylene glycol, in order to dramatically reduce the freezing point. They are stored in the freezer until needed. Ice bags are durable, waterproof bags designed to be filled with ice, which is replaced as it melts. A cold compress has the benefit of being environmentally friendly and simple to use.
Reusable hot packs come in a wide variety, ranging from a standard hot water bottle to versatile cold and heat gel pack and compresses containing grain, beads, or other substances that can hold hot or cold.
Reusable Packs
Who Can Benefit From Heat Therapy
Use hot and cold therapy or cold compress to relieve pain associated with a variety of conditions, including
- Chronic pain conditions
- Muscle soreness as a result of overuse
- Muscle sprains and strains
- Impact injuries
- Post-surgery recovery
- Sports-related injuries
- Old injuries that occasionally flare up
Footnotes
1 Wang Y, et al. "Heat and cold therapy reduce pain in patients with delayed onset muscle soreness: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 32 randomized controlled trials." Physical Therapy in Sport, vol. 48, Mar. 2021, pp. 177-187, doi: 10.1016/j.ptsp.2021.01.004. Accessed 15 Oct. 2021.
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