Cold treatment
If you suffer from the following conditions please discuss the use of cold treatment with a Health Care Professional before using,
- Heart condition e.g. Angina
- Peripheral vascular disease
- High temperature / acute infection
- Loss of sensation to hot / cold e.g over areas of scar tissue or numb areas or nerve damage
- Skin conditions such as: Dermatitis, eczema, broken skin.
- Previous reaction to using cold
- Poor circulation
- History of cancer or tumour
The use of cold treatment
Cold therapy is used to reduce swelling and reduce pain.
Methods for applying cold treatment
- Ice packs / Bag of frozen peas/veg (Do not eat after using)
- Ice bath
- Ice massage
How to apply safely
- Wrap the ice pack in a damp towel or pillow case to avoid ice burns to the skin
- Place over the injured area and leave on for 10 – 15 minutes
- Check the skin regularly for signs of skin irritation / burns
- Never leave on for longer than 20 minutes
- Cold treatment may be repeated every 2 to 3 hours as long as the skin temperature has returned to normal
Ice massage
Ice massage is used to decrease pain over a small area. It can be used for up to a maximum of 10 minutes or less if pain relief occurs sooner.
How to Ice massage safely
- To avoid ice burn, wet an ice cube under the tap before applying directly to the skin and then hold the cube in a piece of kitchen towel
- Apply to the area using a slow circular motion for 10 minutes or less if relief is gained sooner
- It is important to keep the ice cube moving across the skin to avoid an ice burn