Cryotherapy is the use of cold on the skin before or after a physical therapy regimen. At TheraMove, the most commonly used cryotherapeutic modality is an ICE PACK. It is a silica gel pack frozen and used on the body area with or without a combination of electrical stimulation.
The four phases experienced after use of a ICE PACK are abbreviated as CBAN:
C: Cold
B: Burning
A: Aching
N: Numbness
Generally, an Ice Pack is wrapped in a towel and placed on the affected area for 10-15 min to achieve an analgesic (pain relief) effect, in addition to reducing blood flow to the area and decreasing the swelling. This helps for an cessation of inflammation and soreness in muscles.
