Cold Therapy Definitions
Knowledge is power.
Learn more about the importance of cold and compression therapy after surgery and injury.
Inflammation:
The primary cause of post-injury and post-operative discomfort. When patients sustain an injury, healthy cells rush to the site to help the damaged area recover. As the healthy cells work to repair the injured site, they compete with damaged cells for oxygen and nutrients (hypoxia). This competition between cells leads to the death of both healthy and damaged cells, causing inflammation and discomfort. 2,3
Pain:
A chemical response to cell death. Cell death results in increased inflammation at the injury site and in return produces additional pain.
Intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC):
A system that pumps air into a pad and applies active compression.
Motorized cold therapy device:
A motorized cold therapy device incorporates a cooler filled with ice and water that is connected to a tube and pad. The device contains a motor that automatically pumps cold water from the cooler to the pad and back to the cooler for continuous flow of cold water to the pad. The pad wraps around the affected body part to provide therapy for the post-surgical or injury site.
Gravity-fed cold therapy device:
This cold therapy device includes a cooler connected to a tube and a pad, just like the motorized device. The difference with this system is that instead of a motor circulating the water, the user elevates the cooler above the pad so that the water drains into the pad. Once the water is in the pad, it can be applied to the body part for therapy. When a refresh of cooler water is needed, the user lifts the pad higher than the cooler to empty the pad and again lifts the cooler back up to re-circulate cold water back into the pad. Other non-motorized systems require use of a hand pump to pump new water into the pad.
Static compression:
Some cold therapy packs or motorized systems also apply compression to the affected joint. Static compression is applied using a wrap or bandage that initially applies a consistent compression level but declines over time as the wrap naturally loosens.
Active compression:
Another type of compression sometimes used in conjunction with cold therapy devices is active compression. Active compression is like squeezing the joint or body part. Active compression is applied intermittently through an electrical device utilizing an air pump. This type of compression is typically more consistent and controlled than static compression.