Muscle pains can be a real pain. And everyone that ever had problems with them knows about what we are talking about. Muscle pains and cramps can happen to anyone at any time in their life. And it can be due to an injury, age, or even genetics. Sometimes the pain can be gentle, but there are times when it can be unbearable. And it can significantly affect the quality of life. It can interfere with your everyday life and limit your possibilities. Some people recover quickly from muscle pains and cramps, while others have a hard time doing that.
There are many ways people can try to release the pain; some are efficient, while others are not so. You can find a lot of creams or gels available in the market. But, it’s a question which one of them is efficient – and people that have trouble with pain don’t have time to try them all. You can go to therapy, but not everyone has time for that.
That’s why we always opt for something fast and effective. And that’s therapy with Ice Therapy Machines. They can relax your muscles and relieve you of the pain. And what’s best, you won’t ever have to put an ice pack on your sore muscles.
To help you out a bit, we’ve made a list of the best Ice Therapy Machines out there. After checking out this list, you will find the one that suits your needs the best.
So, here we go:
1. Ossur Cold Rush Therapy System
Ossur Cold Rush Therapy System is a very lightweight machine, and you can easily take it with you. This machine’s useful feature is its durable motor, which has the highest ice-to-water radio among all the available machines. From this machine, you can get consistent cooling up to 6 hours continuously. It comes with a handy locking lid that will prevent any spills from happening, a motor with four power settings, and insulated walls for enhanced cooling. You will get a large shoulder pad, and three elasticized straps.
2. Aircast Cryo/Cuff Cold Therapy
This machine is specific because it has a non-motorized gravity-fed system. It means that it delivers chilled water directly into the cryo or the cuff. It can be well suited with all types of cryo/cuff and artic flow pads. The therapy provided by the machines can last up for 6 to 8 hours. It’s perfect for sports injuries, rehabilitation, swellings, and post-operative recovery. The machine itself is also very lightweight and super-portable. The only downside of this product is that you will be required to press the cuff to get substantial cooling throughout manually.
3. Aqua Relief Cryotherapy and Hot Water Therapy System
Who doesn’t love 2-in-1 products? We believe there’s no such person. And this product is a 2-in-1 product because it has both cold and warm water therapy system. In this article, we’re focusing on ice therapy, but it’s good to mention warm water therapy too because it can help a lot of people as well. Another good thing about Aqua Relied Cryotherapy and Hot Water Therapy System is that it is perfect for chronic conditions, and you can use it on your ankles, wrists, shoulders, legs, and hips. You will get the best treatment with this product because of its hospital-grade equipment, but it’s perfect for home use. When it comes to cryotherapy, it can provide up to 5 hours of cooling. The only possible con is that the hose is not sturdy.
4. Arctic Ice Cold Therapy Machine
This is another product with hospital-grade equipment that will give you the best cryotherapy. It can provide you with constant therapy for up to 5 hours, while you can freely move. It has an option of high or low setting and an auto shut-off feature. Some reviews even say that this is the best ice therapy machine available for home use. It comes with a universal joint wrap that you can use for various areas and a leak-free hose. It’s best for people that have chronic pain and conditions like arthritis and diabetic neuropathy.
5. Thermax Hot and Cold Therapy Unit
You can use this unit for both hot and cold therapy, and you can use it on a variety of areas of your body, like your ankles, elbows, knees, and back. It has a rigid handle that’s perfect for easy transportation and an easy to push button lid that seals the unit to prevent any spills. When it comes to cold therapy, it can provide up to 5 hours of it. The only bad thing about it is its loud motor that a lot of people find very annoying.
What’s the difference between cold and hot therapy?
We’ve mentioned some products with both cold and hot therapy features, so we’re going to explain the difference between the two.
Cold therapy, or shall we call it ice therapy is perfect for reducing inflammation and swelling. It does so by decreasing the blood flow to the area that’s injured. You can use it for swollen joints and muscles, and the best results you can get within 48 hours of the injury. But it can also be used for chronic conditions like osteoarthritis.
And when it comes to heat or thermotherapy, it’s also used to ease pain, but mostly chronic pain. It works opposite to cold therapy, and it increases blood flow to keep the muscles relaxed. If you have severe problems with chronic conditions, it’s better to opt for hot therapy then cold. But it can also be used for back and neck injuries, spasms, and sprains and strains.
Depending on your problem and preferences, you will decide on which type of therapy you want. And if that’s cold therapy, you will find what you are looking for in this list. Before buying, consider your needs and see what size of the machine and the pads will suit you the best. Also, it’s important always to check the capacity of the machine, and the material it’s made of.