Arctic Ease is a clinically-studied reliable and effective treatment for mild to moderate aches & pains and inflammation from the pain associated with arthritis and back, joint and muscle pains and sprains, along with repetitive motion injuries, minor burns and bruises. The Arctic Ease products provide hours of odorless relief from pain and inflammation without the hazards and discomfort of ice or frozen gel packs or irritating menthol patches.
Arctic Ease® wraps and pads are an incredibly simple but effective alternative to traditional cold therapy; Arctic Ease® specially-treated wraps and pads 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.
The Arctic Ease® wraps are a two-in-one solution, allowing for cryotherapy and for compression. Compression is believed to facilitate the lymphatic system in removing edema [inflammation] whether from arthritis, Lymphedema/Lepedema (secondary lymphedema), overuse injuries and strains, muscle pains and sprains, along with repetitive motion injuries, minor burns and bruises, and they are re-usable; just follow the package directions.
Arctic Ease® wraps can be used before, during and after exercise to help manage pain, and since there is no odor from additives like medications, menthol or alcohol, Arctic Ease® products can be worn for hours under clothing, and can be re-used.
Arctic Ease® products are a form of cryotherapy; cryotherapy is used to describe the application of cold modalities between 32˚F and 65˚F. Unlike ice bags or frozen gel packs, with the use of Arctic Ease® products you do not have the risk of frost bite or other skin or nerve injuries. What’s important to understand is that the optimal temperature for cryotherapy is above 59˚F (15˚C).(1) When skin temperatures go below that, tissue and nerve damage can occur. Unlike ice and frozen gel packs, Arctic Ease® eliminates this risk.
Cryotherapy works by three main processes:
- Reduction in the inflammatory process by inducing a hypometabolic state; decreasing inflammation decreases the amount of cellular damage by inflammatory mediators, ultimately reducing the amount of capillary permeability and thereby decreasing edema.
- Decrease in hematoma formation, which is produced from vasocapillary constriction and decreased blood flow.
- Third is the induction of analgesia by cold.
Improper application of cold can cause tissue death due to narrowing of the blood vessels resulting from contraction of the muscular wall of the vessel (vasoconstriction), decrease in the blood supply to a bodily organ, tissue, or part caused by constriction (ischemia) and formation of a blood clot inside a blood vessel (thrombosis). Tissue damage can occur if tissue temperature is cooled below 59° F. Frostbite occurs when the skin temperature drops to between 39° to 14° or lower. Extended application of cold to tissue may also cause temporary or permanent nerve damage or changes in nerve conduction. In addition to their volatility, caution should be used with cold (vapocoolant) sprays as they can freeze the skin on contact.
(1) Lee, Pardun, Buntic, Kiehn, Brooks, Buncke, ORTHOPEDICS, “Severe Frostbite of the Knees After Cryotherapy”, January 2007;30(1):63. Cheng, Thompson, Yakobi, Dermatology, “FROSTBITE”, Updated: May 13, 2009
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