Ice Pack Instructions

Cryotherapy, or application of ice packs is very useful for alleviating pain and swelling. The effects of ice are well documented and demonstrated even in the field of sport, where a fallen athlete suddenly recovers from a blow after the application of an ice pack or ice spray. In the domestic setting the use of ice is no less important.

The effects of ice

Whenever there is an injury to the tissues, there will be a certain amount of swelling as a result. The increased amount of fluid will bring along with it inflammatory chemicals which produce more heat and are noxious (they stimulate chemically sensitive and pain sensitive nerve endings) producing more pain. If the swelling goes unchecked, it may cause compression of the local nerves as well as the local blood vessels, mainly the veins, and the lymphatic vessels resulting in inability of the body to naturally disperse the fluid. The main effect of ice is vasoconstriction in the affected tissue. This means, that as ice is applied to the surface of the skin, the superficial and later deeper blood vessels will temporarily reduce in size and therefore reduce the amount of fluid being pumped into the area (swelling).

 The sensation of cool (or heat for that matter) is transmitted in larger nerve fibres than pain - this leads to partial switching off of the pain fibres resulting in numbing of the pain.

Summary: Icing reduces pain, swelling, inflammation and irritation.

In my opinion ice is the treatment of choice, as opposed to heat, for most (about 90%) of acute as well as chronic injuries. Application of ice after having chiropractic treatment is indicated in most cases, and to try and help the body recover more quickly you should carry on using the ice pack in the days between treatments.

How to apply:

The best kind of ice pack is a soft gel ice pack, not a pack of frozen peas or a hard plastic picnic ice pack. The softness of the gel ice pack allows the pack to mould to your shape and contours, and therefore improves the delivery of cold. Also it is a lot more comfortable than a hard lump.

After freezing the ice pack, wrap it in a tea towel or a normal towel to temper the cold. This will prevent any unpleasant skin reactions to the cold. If you notice, however, that the skin becomes irritated or painful, please stop using the ice pack.

Apply the ice pack for no more than 15 minutes per hour. The tissues will need time to recover from the cold before the next application. Your chiropractor will instruct you regarding the appropriate location of application, frequency and total number of applications per day.

If you have not got a gel ice pack at home, or do not know where to get one, we stock gel ice packs at the clinic.

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at the clinic. Call us on 01932 - 429584 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.