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Cold Therapy Machines

Ice & Cold Therapy Machines for Post Surgury or Muscle Pain

Cold Therapy Machines offer ice compression (or just coldness) to aid in healing. These ice machines and cold therapy machines are true game changers in controlling pain and inflammation after surgery or injury. Ice therapy machines are effective pain relievers and offer excellent alternatives to harmful and addictive opioids. This is why orthopedic doctors prescribe ice therapy machines again and again after surgical procedures.

What sets cold therapy units apart from traditional cold packs and compresses is that their integrated coolers, connector hoses, and wrap designs maintain an even circulation of cold water to minimize swelling and numb pain during the healing process. The multiple wrap configurations provide custom options to work with the back, shoulder, knee, ankle, hip, and foot. Cold therapy units come with hook-and-loop closures that are adjustable and stationary, making a cold therapy wrap a superior choice over a cold pack that can easily slip off and that is often ineffective in maintaining a consistently cold temperature.

Cold Therapy Machines and Recovery

A post-surgery ice machine makes icing the injured limb easy. Ice water is added to the cooler without disturbing the wrap, which is less intrusive during the recovery process. Combining cold therapy with compression bandages adds benefit to the treatment of muscle tissue recovery. Several home cryotherapy machines are similar to hospital-grade post-surgery ice machines or cryo ice machines. Select a cryotherapy machine for sale that meets the patient’s individual needs.

Below is a summary of cryotherapy applications.

Post-operative recovery
Muscle recovery following a workout
Reducing swelling after physical therapy
Healing after an injury

Cyrotherapy Effectiveness

Cryotherapy reduces inflammation that results from trauma. It reduces edema, hematoma formation, and pain.¹ Medical studies find that cryotherapy treats patients with diverse neurologic and musculoskeletal maladies.² Cryotherapy is therapeutic due to its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties that result from reduced blood flow to the site of the injury. The use of cryotherapy also reduces the conductive ability of nerve endings to curb pain.³

Wraps for Cold Therapy Machines

Anatomical Wrap Options

Choose from anatomical wraps that are customized to fit the affected body part. For example, a cold therapy unit for knee surgery recovery molds and secures to the contours of the knee to deliver a complete 360-degree cold treatment. Some manufacturers offer universal wrap designs that work with many areas of the body to maximize their use. The wraps secure with a hook-and-loop closure system, so there's no question that the treated area is receiving adequate cryotherapy therapy. Ice machine therapy units can be beneficial to the following areas following injuries or surgeries:

Knees
Feet
Ankles
Shoulders
Backs and Hips
Universal

Important Features To Consider When Selecting a Device

Motor or Gravity Suspension Cold Therapy Units

Motorized cold therapy units plug into the wall using an AC adapter to power the motors and circulate the cold water. The gravity option is often available at a less expensive price point compared with a motorized system; however, where it may be used can be limited because of its suspended, gravity-fed system’s operation.

Examples:

AirCast Cryo/Cuff Gravity Cooler is a universal cooler that is suspended by a bed hanger. The cooler connects to any of the DJO anatomically-specific cuffs.
features a brushless motor that's ultra-quiet so that the patient can rest during cold rehab. The system comes with one universal pad.

Ice Compression Therapeutic Treatments

Applying hook-and-loop cold therapeutic wraps provides light compression to the injured region. However, there are significant benefits to combining intermittent or alternating compression with cold therapy. Medical studies confirm the benefits of the joint application of ice-cold therapy with compression. Ice compression machines remove excess fluid, promote tissue repair, alleviate pain, and oxygenate the tissue to promote faster healing. When both therapies are prescribed, there are cryotherapy units with special ice compression wraps to support both compression and cold treatments.4, ⁵

Examples

with compression therapy combines cold water with 30-second automated compression cycles.

comes with a leak-proof ice bag, two compression wraps, and two cold wraps to interchange between cold and compression care. Patients can choose between alternating or intermittent pneumatic compression. This unit offers up to 70 mmHg compression pressure and its long-lasting battery provides up to 17 hours of continuous battery power.

Wrap Sterility & Connector Hose Length

Most wraps are non-sterile; however, some manufacturers do offer sterile options when a facility treats multiple patients. A cold remedy machine for shoulder recovery may use a longer hose so the unit may be placed farther away to reduce noise.

Examples:

combines both sterile and non-sterile wraps with a regular or extended hose. Additionally, the IceMan Classic stands out with its lightweight design and the IceMan's dual pump recirculation technology to continually mix warmed water with cooler ice water. This travel-ready, portable cold therapy system is easy to use.

has a regular and an extended 79-inch hose option that connects with sterile or non-sterile wrap-on pads. It comes with the IceMan pump circulation system; it also features a simple see-through cooler to know at a glance when it's time to refill the ice.

Enjoy low prices, hassle-free returns, and excellent customer support with each and every ice machine therapy product purchased at Vitality Medical. Product specialists are on standby to answer any questions customers may have about these products. Reach out by phone or live chat during business hours, which are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. MST, seven days a week. Email is available at any time, day or night.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How long should cryotherapy be administered?
The prescribed cryotherapy treatment is based on a physician's recommendations. Depending on the unit, cycles last up to eight hours.

Can the cold therapeutic wrap be applied directly to the skin?
No, it is critical to place a barrier cloth on the skin to protect it when implementing cold therapy treatments with compression. It is also recommended to check on the skin’s condition every hour.

Are cryotherapy machines covered by insurance?
Contact the insurance provider to determine if the unit is covered. In order to keep prices low, Vitality Medical does not bill insurance companies or Medicare.

Is cryotherapy better than heat to treat an injury?
Both types of therapy have their place. When it comes to a new injury with damaged tissue, however, cold therapy rehab sessions slow inflammation and bleeding at the damaged tissue. Cold therapy also relieves pain. Heat therapy is optimally applied when muscles are sore and achy after an intense workout or when experiencing muscle spasms.6

Can an ice machine for shoulder surgery substitute for an ice machine for knee surgery?
Yes, if compression is not a part of the treatment, a shoulder ice machine performs essentially the same function as a knee ice machine. However, the wraps will likely be different to get a good fit.

Top Cold Therapy Products From Vitality Medical (Based On Sales)

is popular for its dual-purpose capability of providing both hot and cold therapy. Wraps are available to fit knees, hips, and arms. This highly rated hot and cold therapy unit features LED light signals for adequate temperature monitoring and is portable.

Breg Polar Care Cube Cold Therapy System includes the cube cooler with a WrapOn pad of choice to support therapy for eight-hour cycles. It has a whisper-quiet pump and a high flow rate to ensure even temperatures. A prescription is required to purchase this cold therapy unit.
Breg Polar Care Wave allows for cold treatments and intermittent compression. The therapies can be used in conjunction with each other or independently. This temperature therapy system has a compact design, provides six to eight hours of consistent cold therapy, and allows for customized cold and compression levels, depending on the patient’s needs.

Footnotes

¹ Hocutt Jr, J. E. "Cryotherapy." American family physician 23.3 (1981): 141-144. (Last Accessed 8-September-2021)
² Olson, Jane E., and Vincent D. Stravino. "A review of cryotherapy." Physical Therapy 52.8 (1972): 840-853. (Last Accessed 8-September-2021)
³ Piana, Lauren E., et al. "The Cold, Hard Facts of Cryotherapy in Orthopedics." American journal of orthopedics (Belle Mead, NJ) 47.9 (2018). (Last Accessed 8-September-2021)
⁴ Block, Jon E. "Cold and compression in the management of musculoskeletal injuries and orthopedic operative procedures: a narrative review." Open access journal of sports medicine 1 (2010): 105. (Last Accessed 8-September-2021)
⁵ Schröder, D., and H. H. Pässler. "Combination of cold and compression after knee surgery." Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy 2.3 (1994): 158-165. (Last Accessed 8-September-2021)
⁶ "Is Ice Better Than Heat To Treat an Injury" UAMS Health (Last Accessed 7-September-2021)