Hot/Cold Therapy

Hot/Cold Therapy

Heal an Injury. Expedite Your Recovery.

Heat Therapy

Primarily applied to an area to relax muscles and increase flexibility. Heat therapy also increases blood flow to the area, allowing oxygen and nutrients to move through blood vessels, essential to the regrowth of damaged tissue.

Cold Therapy

A common treatment for soft tissue injuries by restricting blood flow to the area and reducing inflammation. Once the cold is removed circulation increases bringing new blood to the area, thereby expediting the healing process.

Hot vs. Cold Therapy: Which is Better for your Injury?

Applying heat and ice to an injury is an effective and inexpensive way to help heal an injury and expedite recovery. Although both useful, their applications produce different outcomes during the recovery process. Details of both methods and their prospective effectiveness are listed below.

Cryotherapy

Applying ice to an injury is also referred to as cryotherapy. Icing is typically the first step in the process of recovery, primarily used in the acute or initial stages of an injury. Icing should be used on sprains, strains, muscles soreness, hot/swollen body parts, and most pain after exercise.  When these symptoms occur, cryotherapy combined with the R.I.C.E. principle (rest, ice, compression, elevation) is the recommended treatment.

Icing has two main effects on an injury. First, ice slows down impulses traveling along nerve fibers, (nerve conduction), which helps block pain associated with the injury. Secondly, cold on the skin creates a process called vasoconstriction; the blood vessels narrow, decreasing blood flow to the area and therefore reducing inflammation.

When pain and inflammation are reduced, it allows ROM (range of motion) exercises to begin, ultimately beginning the healing process and reducing swelling naturally. Do not exceed 20 minutes of cold therapy per application.

Ice-Up: Portable Ice Massager

  • Portable Carry Cooler keeps Ice-Up stick frozen up to 12 hours
  • Leak proof design
  • Ergonomic, insulates comfort grip barrel for controlled ice massage
  • Patented ice grippers allow full range of controlled massage pressure
  • Affordable, small and easy to carry – fits in sports bag
  • Simple and effective – fill it, freeze it and bring it along for immediate ice massage
  • Includes Ice-Up stick and insulated Carry Cooler

Ice Up with Cooler

Thermotherapy

The application of heat on an injury is known as Thermotherapy. Thermotherapy is more commonly used for stiffness and deep tissue injuries that do not include swelling. Applying heat to an injury that is inflamed and hot has a negative effect on the injury and therefore is normally used during the post-acute phase of the healing process. Opposite of ice, heat therapy increases blood flow to the area, allowing oxygen and nutrients to move through blood vessels, essential to the regrowth of damaged tissue. When tight, stiff muscles receive heat therapy, the stretching ability of tissue increases, joint stiffness and spasm pain decrease. This allows for an expedited recovery as the range of motion for the injured area increases. Do not exceed 20 minutes of heat therapy per application.

Dr. Cohen’s Heatable AcuBall

  • Heatable Deep Tissue Massage Ball
  • Effective relief from: neck pain, headaches, shoulder pain, fibromyalgia, back pain, sciatica, leg and hip pain, foot pain, and more.
  • 3.5″ Diameter
  • Microwave for 1 minute or boil for 12 minutes for 60 minutes of soothing heat!
  • Uses 100% natural acupressure and heat to release tight muscles and joints.

AcuBall

Combination Therapy

Heat and Ice can be used together in an alternating pattern to create a “pumping” action in the circulation system by restricting circulation to reduce swelling and then increasing circulation to the area.   This may result in an improved range of motion and expedited recovery.   This type of therapy is typically used when an injury is at a week or more maturity, and the typical regiment of R.I.C.E. has not been successful.

Hot/Cold Therapy Wrap

  • Provides penetrating cold and/or heat for therapeutic relief.
  • For fitting – remains flexible during application.
  • 3″ Wide dual strapping system effectively compresses entire target area evenly.
  • Advanced gel technology retains cold or heat longer.
  • Effective relief for most soft tissue injuries.
  • Medium includes 1 gel pack, Extra Large includes 2 gel packs.

Hot/Cold Wrap

With the help of Hot/Cold Therapy you can relieve pain, help heal an injury, and recover faster. We know the body can experience set-backs, so when injured, Pro-Tec is here to offer the support you need to expedite your road to recovery.

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