Runners and Ice Packs

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 ice packs or cold packs to reduce any swelling in our joints.
 
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.
 
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 frost bite, which happened to my wife when she fell asleep with the ice pack on her knees.  So remember to 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. Vinyl Ice Packs are designed for heavy clinical use and remains pliable throughout treatment.
 
Reusable ice 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.

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Noah Lam has over 15 years of experience of providing high quality medical supplies and healthcare products from Acute Care Facilities to parents and children. His company, CWI Medical is a leading provider of clinical diabetic nutrition to healthcare facilities, dialysis centers, and for home use. In addition, CWI Medical is an ACHC Accredited organization maintaining standards of excellence in the Healthcare Field. For more information, please visit www.cwimedical.com

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