Questions about I.C.E.Down Cold Packs

Q. What size I.C.E. DOWN is best for me?

Q. Do I put both the wrap and cold pack in the freezer?

Q. How long should I leave the cold pack in the freezer?

Q. How long should I leave the cold pack on during a treatment?

Q. Can I heat the I.C.E. DOWN cold pack?

Q. When I finish my treatments where should I store my I.C.E. DOWN?

Q. What do the letters I.C.E. mean?

Q. What size I.C.E. DOWN Cold Pack is best for me?

A. It depends on your size and what part of the body you are treating. In order to be effective with cold therapy when treating an extremity, such as a knee, ankle or elbow, the cold pack should go all the way around and extend 2 to 3 inches beyond the area of treatment as edema will migrate. The correct size for a back wrap will depend on your height and waist size.

Q. Do I put both the I.C.E. DOWN wrap and cold pack in the freezer?

A. No, only the cold pack should be put in the freezer. The wrap can be rolled up and placed in a draw or on a shelf until you are ready to use it. Although placing the ice wrap and cold pack into the freezer will not cause any damage it will slow down the refreezing time.

Q. How long should I leave the cold pack in the freezer?

A. It depends on the size of the cold pack. With the Large and XLarge cold packs the first time you put them in the freezer you should leave them in for approximately four hours. Thereafter they should refreeze with a minimum of one hour freezer time. The smaller cold packs require less time.

Q. How long should I leave the cold pack on during a treatment?

A. It is best to leave the cold pack on for the length of time prescribed by your medical practitioner. Generally you can apply I.C.E. DOWN for a 10 to 15 minute cycle and that will provide the necessary benefit. It is best when using cold therapy on an arm or leg to elevate it above the heart. This will improve the therapeutic process.

Q. Can I heat the I.C.E. DOWN cold pack?

A. No, the I.C.E. DOWN cold pack is designed for cold therapy. There is absolutely no indication for the use of heat in any form, insists Dr. Paul Bauer, San Diego Sports Injury Clinic. While external heat application can provide some temporary comfort through muscle relaxation, it exacerbates inflammation by increasing metabolism and blood flow and it can destroy muscle tissue and inhibit rehabilitation.

Q. When I finish my treatments where should I store my I.C.E. DOWN?

A. In the freezer. As long as the I.C.E. DOWN cold pack is kept in the freezer it will last for years and never dry out and it is always ready to use if you need it again. The I.C.E. DOWN neoprene wrap can be rolled up and stored in a cabinet or drawer.

Q. What do the letters I.C.E. mean?

A. I.C.E. is a sports medicine acronym that stands for Ice, Compression and Elevation the three most important parts of using cold therapy. These together with adaquet rest will begin the process of healing.

Click here to learn the advantages of the ICE Down cold therapy ice wraps over similar cold packs and cold therapy products.