After an intense workout, a serious injury, or a surgical procedure, your muscles need time to rest and recover. Ice plays a helpful role in assisting with muscle recovery and can speed up how quickly you heal. In addition to easing soreness, ice reduces swelling in the affected area(s).
Due to the combined cold temperature and compression, cold therapy units are more effective than ice packs alone. These findings are clinically proven and have been influential in creating cold therapy products used to alleviate pain and pressure following injury and post-surgery. Cold therapy units can treat the afflicted area(s) on a deeper level, allowing for faster results than ice packs can deliver.
You’ve probably heard about athletes’ love-hate relationship with ice baths. Ice baths are highly effective because they decrease pain levels much faster than ice packs. Cold therapy units also supercharge muscle recovery. For more information on why cold therapy units like the Breg Polar Care Kodiak are more effective for muscle recovery than ice packs, continue reading.
Evolution of Cold Therapy Methods
Doctors have been relying on cold therapy techniques for years to help patients recover from injury and surgery. Cold therapy is part of the rest-ice-compression-elevation (RICE) technique commonly used for healing worldwide.
Although this method has been applied with an ice pack held in a bandage, advances in science and technology have resulted in more effective forms of cold therapy, including cold therapy units like the Breg Polar Care Kodiak.
Breg Polar Care Kodiak Vs. Ice Packs
- Cold therapy units are more effective than using ice packs and may be so effective that patients require less pain medication to achieve relief after surgery.
- Cold therapy units are so effective because they can decrease the level of pain that the individual feels through numbing their nerve endings.
- When nerve endings are numbed, the body and brain do not communicate as quickly, causing the individual to feel less pain.
- You may find relief with less medication while recovering from injury when using a cold therapy machine.
Note: Talk to your doctor before starting cold therapy, like the Breg Polar Care Kodiak or any compression therapies. Consult with your doctor to see if cold therapy units may be recommended in conjunction with pain medications. Do not stop taking your pain medications without your doctor’s approval.
Why Ice Packs Are Less Effective
Ice Packs are limited in their ability to assist with muscle recovery. Ice packs can only treat a limited amount of surface area at a time. However, cold therapy units, like the Breg Polar Care Kodiak, can conform to the shape of the entire afflicted region. With cold therapy units, you achieve accurately targeted pressure that speeds up muscle recovery.
Ditching The Ice Packs
Cold therapy units like the Breg Polar Care Kodiak are portable, creating even more convenience for individuals who need relief on the go. If you’re serious about getting effective muscle recovery for yourself, look into cold therapy units and ditch the ice packs.
