Ice Packs for Pain Relief and Swelling Reduction

Ice packs are a common remedy used to reduce swelling and pain. They can be applied to injured or sore areas to help numb the area and decrease inflammation.
Category
Supplement
Where to get
Available in most drugstores and online retailers
Prepared by Nick Harper, reviewed by Dr. David James Simpson

ice packs FAQ


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What is an ice pack or gel pack?

An ice pack or gel pack is a portable bag filled with water, refrigerant gel, or liquid, meant to provide cooling. They can be divided into the reusable type, which works as a thermal mass and requires freezing, or the instant type, which cools itself down using chemicals but can only be used once.

What is a hot or cold ice pack?

Hot-or-cold packs are ice packs that are rated for high temperature use. They can be used as a normal reusable ice pack by storing in a freezer, but they can also be heated in water or a microwave oven to reach the desired temperature.

What are the benefits of ice pack?

By icing the injured limb for a set amount of time, it provides the following benefits: Reduced Swelling: When applied to the injury, the ice pack decreases the blood flow to the area. In turn, this reduces the swelling or inflammation, relieving pain while allowing your body to focus on restoration.

What are the different types of ice packs?

Since there are a lot of ice packs out there, we've gathered some of our favorites to help you choose. Generally, you will have three types of ice packs—refillable ice bags, gel ice packs, and instant ice packs. Look below for the different features of each. These are just what they sound like—bags that you can fill with ice cubes.

What are reusable ice packs?

Reusable ice packs typically contain water, something to lower the freezing temperature, a thickening agent, silica gel, and non-toxic blue coloring. The concerning component in reusable ice packs is the ingredient used to lower the temperature, which is usually propylene glycol.

ice packs References

If you want to know more about ice packs, consider exploring links below:

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