How to use a therapy gel pack: reusable hot and cold gel pack

Hot and cold therapy has come a long, long way.

From using ice cubes and hot water bottles from the past, we now have instant cold gel packs to relieve people from pain, stiff muscles, and inflammation.

Following an acute injury- whether sports-related or the result of general clumsiness, cold therapy is usually the best course of action. The cold reduces swelling and helps dull the pain, speeding up the road to recovery and limiting damage when the injury is serious. While you may think that anything cold will do, you should skip the frozen packaged steak and stock your freezer with therapy gel packs that can be used whenever you want at your convenience. With a gel pack handy, you’ll be prepared the next time an accident occurs in your home.

Caldera Therapy Gel Pack

The difference between cold and heat therapy

Both heat and cold are useful for treating a variety of injuries, but they can’t always be used interchangeably. Cold therapy gel packs reduce blood flow in the affected area and help reduce swelling. The chilly surface of a cold therapy pack also helps lower pain levels. Cold therapy is best used within 48 hours of an acute injury.

Heat therapy, on the other hand, helps increase blood flow to an area to relax muscles and improve circulation. It also has anesthetic qualities and promotes healing of injured areas once the swelling has subsided. In addition, heat therapy is a helpful treatment tool for chronic pain conditions. Remember to elevate affected body parts when using heat or cold therapy packs to reduce further swelling.

Benefits of using Gel Packs for Injuries

● Pain relief- applying cold will numb the painful area

● Reduce swelling- the icing will reduce internal bleeding

● Ease muscle spasm- aid muscle relaxation post-injury

● Cooling effect- reduce fever or cool down on a hot day

How long do most cold therapy packs stay cold?

It depends on the brand, but you shouldn’t treat your injury with cold therapy for more than 30 minutes at a time to avoid irritating your skin. The recommendation is to treat acute injuries every two or four hours but never for more than 30 minutes at a time.

Can I heat up my cold therapy pack?

Yes, you can. Some cold therapy packs also double as heat therapy packs but check the product description to be sure. It’s not safe to heat up all cold therapy packs. Do not attempt to heat up disposable cold therapy packs.

How to use therapy gel packs?

1. For cold therapy, put the gel pack in your freezer for at least two hours. Make sure they lie flat so that it can mold onto the affected area better.
2. For hot therapy, place the gel pack in the microwave. The heating duration usually depends on the size of the gel pack. Smaller gel packs only take 10 seconds to heat up, while bigger ones take about 40 seconds. Gradually heat the larger packs for 10 to 15-second duration, with a few seconds in between to avoid overheating.
3. Do not apply hot or cold packs directly onto your skin. Use a barrier like a towel or cloth before using the gel packs to avoid possible skin damage caused by extreme temperatures.
4. Apply the gel packs onto the affected area for about 15-20 minutes. Do not apply for more than the recommended duration. Allow the skin to return to its normal temperature before reapplying the hot or cold pack.

What sets gel packs apart are the fact that they’re very versatile. Unlike instant cold packs, gel packs can be used multiple times for both hot and cold therapy purposes. If you’re suffering from a  long-standing condition like arthritis and need to alternate hot and cold therapy regularly, you can do so with just a couple of gel packs. A single gel pack can cater to multiple body parts.