Reusable Gel Ice Packs for Knees with Compression Band

• Pain relief: the transfer of cold to the body will cause the pain receptors to lower their threshold so that there is relief for people who have suffered new injuries. The milder the injury, the better the effect the ice and heat will have due to their components designed to prevent burns and generate additional protection to the skin. Cold works as an analgesic and anti-inflammatory, which is why it is used in the sports world.
• Reduce inflammation: when soft tissues are damaged, they begin to release a chemical compound to divide cells and begin their recovery from physical and tissue injuries such as muscles, tendons and ligaments. Although inflammation is a natural process, it must be helped so that the swelling does not expand and cold is ideal to prevent this inflammatory growth, which also causes more localized pain in the affected area.
• Accelerates recovery: as this gel pack can also transfer heat, you can use it in case you have chronic injuries that you have not been able to overcome over time and that you are used to dealing with. There are sports injuries and other ailments caused by degenerative diseases that leave joint and ligament discomfort, the heat will keep the affected area protected so you can continue with your daily activity.
• Injury prevention: as we indicated, ice has properties to reduce inflammation and pain, but it will also make the joints better withstand the incidences of physical activities. The gel pack covers the knee and prevents muscle and joint wear, which when it progresses compromises the functioning of tendons and ligaments. To use the cold correctly, you should follow some recommendations that you will see below.
• Compression: another plus that has this gel bag is that it has a Velcro strap that serves as a closure and works to provide compression on the knee, thus protecting it from possible injuries due to wear and tear when you make a change in sport intensity or when you do an atypical work such as climbing stairs when the elevator is damaged to reach your floor. Compression has multiple benefits on the knee.
• Improves athletic performance: when you take the necessary precautions and avoid injury, you will be able to be more active, in training, at work and at home if you have a lot of responsibilities. Although the knee is strong, its range of motion is limited and can be injured when tissues are overstretched and when you lift a weight and the knee becomes unbalanced. Sudden twisting leaves damage that in most cases is controlled with this gel pack.
• Improves blood circulation: for problems such as varicose veins and ulcers, both with an origin in vascular difficulties, the thermal bag works perfect for contrast therapies and improve the circulatory system to achieve pain relief and reduce swelling in the legs. By improving circulation, the blood has a better return upwards, but it is recommended that the body is standing and active. The bag fits snugly around the knee and keeps you moving.
• Cellular activation: one way to activate the cells is to relax the damaged muscles with cold, with this bag you achieve that the fibers are ungrouped and initiate the recovery of the affected tissue in physical injuries. In addition, when they are past injuries and there is still pain, without inflammation, the heat will bring the nutrients that the body requires to address the pain and discomfort associated with joint injuries that are still present in the knee.
• Bruises: it does not take a strong blow to cause a bruise, which is actually a hemorrhage inside the skin that causes stains of various shades and visible on the outside. The gel pack when used with cold will control the expansion of the bruise and prevent further pain in the knee. After a direct blow and falls, it is advisable to apply this bag and reduce the chances of having this annoying mark on the skin for several weeks.

Cold therapy

• When to apply cold? The knee has many ways of telling you that something is wrong with its function. You may have a deformity, you may feel pain when walking, when twisting the trunk while the foot is fixed and while trying to pick something up from the ground. You should always be aware of these signs and even more so when you have suffered a recent blow or fall, sometimes the symptoms are not clear at the time. Avoid applying cold if there is an open wound in the knee, nor should you use cold if you have an allergic reaction or when there is pain without inflammation, since these are other types of injuries in which heat will have a better effect. Take into account that, if you practice sports, you should have it at hand and it will be useful to achieve immediate relief when required, it is a reusable product and resistant to temperature changes.
• How to use in cold? You may think that cold has no risks for the body, but it is not so. Skin burns are likely to occur if you use this heat pack for more than 20 minutes continuously. It is always advisable to start with a 15 and 20 minute application to give the skin and pain receptors time to adapt to the change in temperature. The gel pack has a fabric that protects the skin, but it works best only if you respect the time of use. Place the bag in the freezer for two hours before use. You should always allow it to rest before placing it on the knee, after 20-25 minutes have passed, remove the bag to allow the tissues to rest for another 10 minutes and then use the cold again. This cycle can be repeated once an hour, in some cases it is allowed three or four times a day.

Heat therapy

• When to apply heat? The use of heat is a little more complex because you must know well what type of injury you are addressing, it is usually better to have the guidance of a medical specialist or a physiotherapist, as they will give you the main guidelines by which you should be governed to obtain the result you are looking for in the knee. Heat serves as a vasodilator, stimulates blood flow, activates cell multiplication and keeps the tissues at a healthy temperature to avoid stiffness. If you feel that your knee is numb or tingling, it is best not to apply heat and seek the advice of a physician. Keep in mind that high temperatures also burn the skin, if you do not take care of the lapse of time you should use it.
• How to use heat? Place the gel pack in a water bath or microwave for several minutes. Carefully remove the bag and use your hands to better distribute the heat transmitted by the gel, so that you can move the gel without burning your hands. It is only recommended to use this product for 15-20 minutes, then you should give your knee a rest. It is recommended that you are sitting or lying down to apply heat to the joint. This cycle should be repeated three to four times a day.

Contrast therapy

• When to apply cold and heat? This is an uncommon therapy and should always be supervised by a physiotherapist, unless you are already used to contrast baths that have the same effect as this bag when used in combination with cold and heat. This therapy is used for chronic injuries that require the regulation of nutrients through the bloodstream. In people with vascular problems such as varicose veins and ulcers, it is very useful because it relieves pain by retraining the veins and vessels so that there is a better venous return. It is often a quick therapy that seeks short-term results, but you should always take into account a rest in the tissues to avoid saturating them with sudden changes in temperature.
• How to use hot and cold? The combined therapies will have a different time depending on the part of the knee in which you want to relieve pain and inflammation. First you should start with the use of heat for 15-20 minutes and then give the tissues a rest for 2-3 minutes, while you prepare the bag to apply cold. If you have two bags instead of one, it is better because it increases the effectiveness of the contrast treatment on the joint. When using the cold, remember that you should not spend more than 20 minutes in its use to avoid numbing the knee, also lowers the likelihood of having burns, although this model of gel pack has a protective fabric.

There are several conditions that you should take into account before using this garment. You should always be careful not to burn your hands when heating the gel pack, you also need to move the gel to avoid affecting the dermis.

This is a completely safe product, but there are some risk factors to consider to reduce the risk factors of using excessive heat and cold on the skin.

• Do not apply to an open or infected wound.
• Do not apply to patients with vascular disorders, unless under medical supervision.
• Do not apply if you suffer from circulatory or nervous disorders, unless under medical supervision.
• Do not apply to sensitive or irritated skin.

It is important to clarify some basic doubts that you must surely have if you have never used this type of gel packs for hot and cold treatment on the body. The first thing you should know is that you need to be clear about when to use each type of therapy.

However, we leave a couple of key questions that are important for you to have at hand, so that you have some safety measures.

• Can they burn your skin? Yes, although the pouch is designed to prevent burns, the way you use it will determine whether your knee will be relieved without the need for burns. Use your hands with caution to be sure that the bag is not too hot and if you are sensitive to cold, you will notice that the bag bothers you.
• Can they be toxic? So far, there is no record of skin damage to the knee from poisoning or allergic reactions to the material from which bags like these are made. But we suggest you not to apply lotions or gels on the skin before placing the bag, because you do not know if they will have any allergic reaction to the cold and heat of this product.

If you usually have physical injuries at home, work in sports practice, then this product is for you. You just need to be clear about the possible uses and application time to achieve the results you are looking for in relieving pain and inflammation. If, after reading the recommendations throughout this article, you have more doubts, then it is advisable to see a doctor so that you are clear on how to get the most out of the hot/cold gel pack according to your particular case.