Ice Packs for Injuries
When the average has a sports injury such as a sprain or bruise, the first thing they usually do is sooth the pain with a pack of ice. This is not only a great medicine, but it is also a very cheap way to help deal with minor injuries. Most people do not apply ice in a manner that reduces the risk of injury from direct contact with ice. There are certain conditions that people have which preclude the use of ice packs for any bodily injury.
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Function
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Ice packs are great for reducing the size and pain of bruising and swelling. Swelling of an injury is actually caused by broken blood vessels spewing liquid to the surrounding area. Cooling the area down slows the blood flow by causing the blood vessels to contract. Preemptively icing down a wound or part of the body with chronic pain prevents wounds from "growing" to their maximum size (See References 2).
Homemade Option
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An icepack is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to tend to an injury and sooth pain. The simplest method for making an icepack is wrapping a towel with cubed or crushed ice. Crushed ice is usually preferred as you want the ice pack to conform to all sizes of body parts. Bagged, frozen vegetables are another common, makeshift option.
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Commercial Ice Packs
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Those who regularly take part in physical activity and professional sports trainers often have a commercially produced ice pack on hand. Premium ice packs are reusable and contain a gel that conforms to any shape and size body part. Sports Injury Info says that you should look for a pack that does not turn solid when frozen so as to achieve maximum contact with a wound.
Proper Use
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CVS's Caremark website claims that ice pack treatments work best when applied to the site of injury for 20 minutes, or until the area of contact starts to feel numb, over a period of 24 to 72 hours. Caremark also recommends that one use an ice pack treatment and then a "hot" pack treatment for persistent injuries. The best method for a hot treatment is a very warm towel applied for 20 to 30 minutes at a time.
Warnings
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Not everyone and not every injury can be cured with an ice pack. According to Sarah Henry of CVS Caremark, those with blood circulations problems should avoid constricting the blood vessels with a cold pack, and those with diabetes should also avoid them. A common belief is that one needs to apply ice directly to a swollen area, this is not true, ice applied directly to the skin can cause nerve damage.
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