If you couldn’t tell from last week’s Friday Confessionals, the post you’re about to read is something I’m really excited about! It’s a combination of sports and medicine (♪ these area few of my favorite things ♪) and it feeds into my incessant need to try anything and everything COLD THERAPY. Oh yeah…. giveaway.
Let’s go.
Cryotherapy is the method of reducing pain or swelling with the use of ice or cold temperature. Cryo = involving or producing cold, especially “extreme” cold. From Greek kruos – ‘frost‘. For whatever reason, I think I must like this whole cold therapy concept, because I have tried just about EVERY product out there. This should come as a shock because in my book, the #2 worst feeling in the world (next to #1 – being lonely – haha!!) is being COLD!! Maybe cold therapy is different in that it serves a purpose, whereas standing on Hennepin Ave for an hour in -18° windchill to watch the Holidazzle does not.
Um… anyways. If you wander on over to the search bar on the right and type in the word “ice” you will see that I’ve experimented quite a bit. Actually, I think the search bar looks for “ice” in any part of a word, like nice or twice, so that’s an inaccurate representation. But for proof, there is definitely photo documentation from April 6th, 2008 of frozen corn ice packs. I’ve used frozen peas, a bag of frozen meatballs, frozen… water (ice cubes? really?), the dixie cup method, school lunch ice packs, and the mother of all, the ice bath.
Now, in my experimentation, I have faced two separate problems. 1) the source of kruos and its’ ability to remain cold, and 2) the method of transportation. Referring to the above image, you will see that I attempted the Hair Band method of affixation. While in a static, non-moving position, the Head Band works just fine. However, if you feel the need to move for any reason – run to answer the phone, get up to use the restroom, walking around the kitchen making dinner, etc. – your S.O.L.
Using a hair band or not, most icing is done while sitting down. Well that’s dandy – hopefully you’re elevating too like the doc’ told you. But sometimes the recommendation is to ice, oh, 5 times a day for example. Unless it’s your JOB to do recovery and ice on and off all day, chances are you need to be up and active, regardless of your little “inflammation”. I introduce to you…
ARCTIC EASE
While they don’t claim to give you back muscles like Mr. Lats over here… they provide a cold therapy wrap or pad that accomplishes BOTH of the two stated problems above. They STAY PUT and they STAY COLD! I was going to attempt to put all of my feelings for Arctic Ease into a concise and coherent paragraph, but my passion was just too strong. Thankfully, they did it for me!
Arctic Ease wraps and pads are an incredibly simple but effective alternative to traditional cold therapy. They absorb heat energy from the body to cool the covered area. The absorbed heat is then lost to evaporation, which allows for hours of targeted cold therapy. Arctic Ease is ready to use right out of the package — no refrigeration is necessary. And mobility isn’t limited since Arctic Ease conforms to the affected area without the need for clips or tape. Arctic Ease is reusable, odorless and environmentally friendly.
I wish I were exaggerating. Having a cold therapy fetish is not something I’d recommend you list on your resume. Or your match.com profile. But this stuff is GOOD! I wish I’d thought to take some action shots the several times I’ve used them, but whattya know I was out and about being active! No, not exactly resting or elevating, but icing AND compression in one! Score.
Best of all, you have a chance to try Arctic Ease. The cost? 15 seconds of your time to leave a comment with one of the following:
- What do you most frequently have to ice? I had to ice my groin/hip flexor after surgery. It wasn’t so much inconvenient as awkward. Definitely not something I’d try on the go with a leaking+melting bag of ice…
- Go to Arctic Ease’s website, and tell me something cool you learned! Other than what I’m contributing – The optimal temperature for effective cold therapy is above 59° F (15°C).*
- Tweet this giveaway OR mention it on your blog! You can just link it to http://drtrirunner.com since I think those ityURLs are tacky.
Make sure you include @SperlyTriRunner if you’re tweeting so I can see it! (You don’t have to follow me, but you’re more than welcome to if you want!)
If you want more than one chance to win, make sure you comment for each item individually! The giveaway is open until ONE WEEK from right now. (Tuesday November 2nd, 6:50 pm CENTRAL)
And there you have it compadres! After reading my buddy Jaime’s post today… I know where he definitely will not be icing with these! (Please note that this link contains PG13 material.) That kid nearly broke my face from laughing so hard!
I hope everyone has a wonderful week ahead, and if you live in Minnesota (or Chicago I hear?) you haven’t been BLOWN away!! 81 mph wind gusts says the Chicago AP. Psh…. adversity training.
-E
But while I'm inserting this ETA... I might as well say 
All of this is coming from the very bottom of my big ol’ “I’m all about honesty” heart – yes, Subway is providing me with these gifts for you, but my opinion is the same nonetheless.
