Ice Packs and Cold Packs Are Not Just For Runners!

[baqir]

Early 2008, I got off the couch and decided to run the 2008 New York City Marathon. This past year I got my wife, a couple family members and a couple of friends to also run the marathon. One thing in common for all of us was that we all used some ice packs or cold packs to reduce any swelling in our joints. lunch box freezer pack

Ice packs reduce inflammation by constricting the blood vessels around the injured joint or limb. Cold also creates a numbness so that the feeling of pain is reduced. At this time, your muscles are able to be relaxed and tension around the joint or muscle can be released.

This is why as soon as one of my children, fall down, bump their head, have a bloody nose, or take an accidental elbow from on of their siblings. The first thing we apply to the wounded area is a cold pack to reduce the swelling.

My doctor recommends the use of ice packs for 15 minutes then wait an hour for the next ice treatment. Also direct contact of an ice pack may cause frostbite, which happened to my wife then she fell asleep with the ice pack on her knees. So wrap the pack with a towel! Always talk to your doctor when doing any kind of exercise and therapy for the best results.

A basic plastic bag with ice works just fine, but they sometimes leak, hard to mold into shape, and can only be used once. With reusable ice packs, they are leak free, forms around your joints, and when you are done they can be put back into the freezer to be used for the next session.

In case of an emergency or there is not a refrigerator/freezer in sight, an instant cold pack will help. This bag contains ammonium nitrate and an inner pouch of water. When the pouch is broken the water mixes with ammonium nitrate and chemical reactions. The ammonium nitrate absorbs a lot of heat when it dissolves in water making the pack as cold as ice. It provides great temporary relief!

Reusable cold packs are usually made of some kind of hydro gel similar to the one used in diapers. This gel is sealed inside a plastic or rubberized bag. After being placed in a freezer, the gel inside the package retains it cold temperature longer than ice.

Yes you can use a bag of frozen vegetables. Just remember that it should be dinner not to be treating your wounds. Anyway, my joints and kids are very thankful for cold packs!