Our Gel Packs

Why Ice?

Ice treatment, sometimes known as cryotherapy, is used for acute injuries to reduce inflammation, pain, and swelling.

Inflammation is a natural response to injury or infection. After a trauma, blood vessels and tissues swell so the immune cells can get closer to the damage. While vital to healing, unchecked inflammation may cause extreme pain and even disability.

If a physical injury occurred within the past 48 hours, an ice pack can help minimize swelling, reduce tissue bleeding, and alleviate muscle spasms and pain.

Ice treatments may also treat chronic conditions, including overuse injuries in athletes (such as tendinitis, tendinosis, or bursitis). The treatment works best if the pack is applied immediately after physical activity to treat inflammation preemptively.

Arthritis, migraine headaches, and trigeminal neuralgia are other chronic disorders that may benefit from ice application.

How to Ice an Injury

PurHeart ice gel packs are great for ice treatments because they are:

• Reusable: The packs can be reused multiple times, which is more economical and environmentally friendly than disposable ice packs.
• Flexible: The gel packs contour to the body, making them more comfortable to use than static ice packs.
• Safe: The gel pack covers are made of a soft fabric that will not stick to the skin, and the packs are filled with purified water, so there is no risk of ice burns.

When frozen, our cold gel packs will stay cool from 25 minutes up to 2 hours.

For Reconstructive treatments, gel packs can either be stored in the freezer or in a cold temperature of 38 degrees Fahrenheit. It is recommended NOT to freeze the gel packs applied specifically in the ‘Forehead’ as it will be extremely too cold against the skin.

To safely ice an injury:

• Never ice an injury for greater than 15 to 20 minutes. Icing an injury several times a day is preferable to all at once.
• If you experience prickly pain or if the skin appears bright pink or red, remove the pack.
• If you have a heart condition, do not use an ice pack on the left shoulder.

Why Heat?

Heat treatment is most commonly used to treat chronic pain.

Heat treatments relax tissues, loosen muscles, and improve blood flow. Increased blood flow supplies increased oxygen and nutrients to the area, which helps promote healing. Heat also reduces stiffness in joints and relaxes muscles.

If muscle tension is the cause, heat is an effective form of pain relief. Heating can relax tissues and loosen stiff joints, making it ideal for musculoskeletal conditions such as arthritis and old muscle strains.

How to Heat an Injury

Following an injury, wait at least 48 hours at the minimum prior to using heat. This will give the swelling time to go down.

To use heat application safely:

• Do not use heat treatments immediately after physical activity.
• Do not use heat to treat a severe injury.
• Use moderate heat. Heat treatment should not cause sweating or discomfort.
• Do not use heat on swollen areas.
• Do not use heat on broken or damaged skin.
• Do not use heat for extended periods or while sleeping.

Heating in Microwave

MICROWAVE: Place gel pack into the microwave for approximately 30 seconds (if the gel pack is at room temperature) or 1 minute (if the gel pack is frozen) on high power. Check that the gel pack has reached a comfortable, warm temperature. If not, microwave in ten-second bursts until the desired temperature is reached.

Times are based on a 600W microwave: adjust heating times accordingly to suit the power of your microwave.

Heating in Hot Water

HOT WATER: Bring water to a boil, remove from heat, and immerse the gel pack for approximately 4-10 minutes. After 4 minutes, check every minute to see if the correct temperature has been reached.