What are the cold modalities?
Cold packs, ice massage, cold baths, vapocoolant sprays, and cold compression machines are all common cold therapies. These techniques reduce the temperature of the local tissue. Cold energy (low temperature) reduces pain, blood flow, edema, inflammation, muscular spasm, and tissue metabolic demand. It is useful in treating injuries to muscle, tendon, or ligament; arthritis; carpal tunnel syndrome; cramps; fibromyalgia; gout; headaches; hip and knee problems; myofascial pain syndromes; nerve conduction disorders; osteoarthritis; rheumatoid arthritis; spinal stenosis; and tennis elbow. The goal of any form of cold therapy is to reduce pain and promote healing by inhibiting inflammatory responses and cellular activity. There are several studies showing that applying ice packs to injured muscles can relieve pain and swelling after exercise. In one study, people who applied ice packs to their knees for 20 minutes every hour for three hours after surgery had lower levels of inflammation than those who didn't get ice packs. Ice baths are used as a treatment for arthritis, sports injuries, stress, and other conditions. They can also be used as a relaxation technique. Ice baths work by reducing muscle tension and pain sensitivity while increasing blood flow and metabolism. People with diabetes should not use cold therapy on wounds that have not healed for more than two weeks because it could cause damage to blood cells or lead to infections.