The Knee Learning Resource
Cryotherapy means treatment by using cold, such as ice or iced water. Cryotherapy helps to relieve pain and also to minimise swelling. Icing can be performed with simple home systems or more sophisticated commercial systems.
Commercial cryotherapy systems include -
It is not a problem if you do not have a commercial system. Moisten a towel and wrap it around some ice from the refrigerator. Remember that ice from the freezer is FAR colder than from the refrigerator so if you use freezer ice you need to crush it and use a good thick towel. Better is a bag of frozen peas. Ice the limb for about 15 minutes only. Repeat as needed but don't leave the ice on so long that the skin burns!
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