How to Use a Cold Therapy Unit?

A cold therapy unit and cold therapy machine are one and the same thing – devices to deliver cold therapy.

Cold therapy is the use of freezing temperatures to reduce orthopedic pain. The pain can be due to surgeries, injuries, or extremely fatigued muscles. But the delivery of the freezing temperature needs to be perfect for cold therapy to produce optimal results. The best way to deliver cold therapy is via special devices that are designed for this task.

Using a Cold Therapy Machine

Using a cold therapy unit doesn’t require elaborate preparations. The device is made up of several components such as a pump, a healing pad, a tank, a connecting tube, etc.

You will first need to fill the tank with ice and water. Then you can wrap the healing pad around the affected area and sit comfortably. Now, all you need to do is switch on the machine, and the pump will begin to initiate the water flow from the tank to the healing pad. A tube connects the tank to the healing pad, and all these components work seamlessly to deliver cold therapy to the affected area.

The healing regimen –

You will need to use the unit as per your need for cold therapy. Your doctor is likely to recommend a healing regimen for you as per your unique requirements. Usually, you will require multiple sessions a day; with each session lasting for about 15-20 minutes at the least.

For post-surgical healing and severe injuries, the requirement for cold therapy can be longer than usual.

The delivery of cold therapy needs to be consistent for patients to really benefit from it. So, you will need to administer it without missing any of your healing sessions. Convenient use of a cold therapy unit makes it easy for patients to continue with their healing sessions as needed.

Uses –

You can use a cold therapy unit easily at-home settings. So, you don’t need to visit a clinic for your cold therapy healing sessions if you don’t wish to do so.

If you are recovering from a shoulder, hip, or knee replacement surgery; cold therapy sessions can be extremely helpful for you to regain a range of motions in your joints. It will help you to begin your physical therapy without any delay. For injuries such as ligament tears or fractures, you can use the machine at home for speedy pain relief. You might require 1-2 sessions of cold therapy a day for effective healing.

If you want to use the machine for reducing muscle ache; you can administer cold therapy once a day or as needed.

Buying the Right Cold Therapy Machine

If you wish to use a cold therapy machine, you need to invest in the right device.

Using a machine for cold therapy is safe. It doesn’t carry with it risks that come with using ice packs for cold therapy. Ice packs can drip water over surgical wounds; increasing your risks of contracting post-operative infections. It is also messy and inconvenient to use ice packs for cold therapy. With the right cold therapy unit or machine; you won’t need to deal with any such issues.

For instance, IsoComforter makes its cold therapy machines using the patented Iso tube technology. It helps in the most efficient delivery of cold therapy. IsoComforter healing pads are made using a ridge design, which helps with optimal skin contact. The ridges help prevent injuries from freezing temperatures.

IsoComforter machines also come equipped with self-priming pumps for operational ease. You won’t need to fiddle with multiple switches or knobs to use IsoComforter machines. You can also buy portable machines to administer cold therapy on the go.

When buying a cold therapy machine, it is important to select the right healing pad also. For instance, IsoComforter healing pads deliver cold therapy from all sides instead of just one. So, you can expect more optimal healing when you use such healing pads. You can buy sterile healing pads for postoperative pain relief. It will minimize the risks of infections. You can select a multipurpose healing pad or one that is designed for specific areas such as the knee, hip, back, or the shoulders.