Aches and pains bringing you down?
One pack of ice might not prove enough.
Instead, cold therapy machines can offer the relief you need. In fact, many athletes are using cold therapy to relieve their ongoing pain.
According to this study, cold therapy was deemed effective as an adjuvant pain management strategy. In addition to optimizing pain control, it also allowed these patients to avoid opioid consumption.
But that’s just one case for cold therapy! There are so many more benefits. Keep reading to discover the benefits of cold therapy treatments for injury recovery.
1. Recover From Surgery
Every individual body heals at individual rates. If you’ve recently undergone surgery, you might find yourself wishing away a number of aches and pains.
Many doctors recommend post-surgical patients try cryotherapy as part of their rehabilitation. Cold therapy machines can control swelling and inflammation around the injured area or surgical site.
As a result, you’ll soon achieve normal function, even after experiencing soft tissue trauma.
Using a cold therapy system can get you back on your feet at a much faster rate.
The patients mentioned in the study above used cold therapy after undergoing spinal fusions. Following their surgeries, localized cold therapy minimized their pain. As a result, these patients didn’t have to rely on opioids for pain relief.
If you’re worried about developing a drug dependency after undergoing surgery, ask your doctor about cold therapy. You can use cold therapy machines to experience pain relief without depending on anti-inflammatory drugs.
As a result, you’re able to avoid a potential addiction and still focus on your healing.
2. Sooth Tissues, Joints, and Muscles
Minor injuries, such as sprains and bruises, can become big distractions in our daily lives. Acute pain causes inflammation and swelling, which can slow us down. Cold therapy, however, can provide effective relief for these injuries by reducing the inflammation.
Cold therapy machines can speed up your healing time, too.
For example, treating an ankle sprain with ice can help it heal within a week. Without using cold therapy, however, the recovery time looks closer to 10 days.
It’s not just for one-time injuries, though!
Some people experience persistent inflammation or have a condition that causes their pain. With cold therapy machines, you can relax and let the cool air do all the work. Cryotherapy can treat repetitive strain injuries for athletes.
This treatment option can also help with:
- Cubital tunnel syndrome
- Shin splints
- Plantar fasciitis
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Tendonitis
- Trigger finger
Many arthritis patients who experience inflammation and ongoing pain also use cold therapy.
With easy access to a cold therapy unit, you can find the relief you need, anytime you need it. Otherwise, you might find pain and inflammation taking over your life more than you’d like.
3. Experience Additional Relief
Cold therapy can help treat problems, big and small.
For example, cold therapy can help relieve your headache and migraines. Migraine pain can leave you in bed all day. Instead of trying to fight debilitating pain, cold therapy can let you take control of your life again.
To treat your headaches and migraines, consider using neck wraps with frozen ice packs. These wraps can help numb the nerves and reduce your symptoms. You can also relax in a cold therapy unit and let the chill soothe your pain.
Cold therapy has also proven effective in treating depression symptoms as well. When used as a regular treatment option, it’s sometimes more effective than prescription antidepressants.
You might also benefit from using cold therapy for treating dermatitis and other skin conditions. Finally, cold therapy is also helpful for nerve irritations and mood disorders.
4. Recharge After a Workout
Many athletes use cold therapy units to relax their bodies after an intense workout.
Consider using cryotherapy for muscle or injury recovery after exercising. The cold temperatures can relax your sore muscles and deep tissue. Cold treatment can also help your muscles repair themselves.
That way, you can prep your body for your next training session.
Remember, cold therapy can also help reduce the muscle pain you experience. Whether it’s from playing sports or working out at the gym, cryotherapy can ease your pain, allowing you to improve your recovery time.
When combined with a post-workout routine, cold therapy is an effective method for improving your recovery and ongoing athletic performance.
When Not To Use Cold Therapy
Cold therapy isn’t always a suitable option. In some cases, you’ll need to ask your doctor about an alternative therapy instead. For example, your body might better benefit from hot therapy, instead of cold.
Here are a few times cold therapy isn’t a suitable approach:
- You have a vascular disease or injury
- Your body is hypersensitive to cold temperatures
- You’re already cold or the affected area feels numb
- You have a sympathetic dysfunction
- There’s the risk of cramping
- You have an open wound
Make sure you don’t use cold therapy immediately before physical activity.
Ice treatments can reduce blood flow around the injury. The cold temperatures are able to slow the rate of the inflammation. As a result, the cold also reduces the risk of swelling or potential tissue damage.
You also shouldn’t directly apply ice to the skin, which can lead to frostbite. By using cold therapy machines, you can choose a safer approach to relieving your pain.
There are different types of cold therapy, such as massaging the area with ice. You can also use a cold compress. Cold therapy machines alter an alternative to these methods.
You can speak to your doctor about which cold therapy option is the most suitable for your injury.
Freeze the Pain Away: The Benefits of Cold Therapy Machines
Don’t let those aches and pain take over. With these benefits of using cold therapy machines, you can start healing today!
Check out the Health and Fitness section of the blog for more helpful guides.