Ice cups work well for icing shins, quads, shoulders or areas of the body that are more difficult to immerse in water and ice. An ice cup is simply water frozen in a paper or Styrofoam cup. When using an ice cup, tip the cup upside down so the ice is in contact with the skin. The cup should be kept moving slowly at all times to reduce the risk of frostbite, be kept in constant contact with the skin, and be used for no more than 10 minutes. The use of ice cups on new injuries should be avoided as the movement of the ice may cause further tissue irritation.
Ice can be effective in treating athletic injuries for up to several weeks after the injury.
When swelling occurs it can cause pressure which is painful and limits movement. Great care needs to be taken not to get the elastic wrap too tight. The wrap should be SNUG, not tight. If the area below the wrap becomes numb or loses color, immediately remove the wrap and after all feeling and color have returned, reapply it more loosely. Care should also be taken to cover the entire injured area leaving no gaps in the wrap.