Ice therapy machine is an amazing thing that saves you from sleepless nights caused by joint pain or surgery recovery.
Recovering from sprains, swelling, and surgical wounds is, inevitably, slow. In order to accelerate, medical ice machine was born. And it can help you quickly return to life full of sports, friendship and happiness.
What are you waiting for? Let’s take a look at the top 8 cold therapy machines!
Top Pick: Ossur Cold Rush Therapy System
Maximum Time: 6 hours; Weight: 4.6 pounds; Universal Pad: none (shoulder pad available)
First to touch on is Ossur Cold Rush Therapy System – the most reliable and outstanding ice machine for shoulder/knee. With its excellent cooling and low decibels (30 dB), it has become the leader of its industry.
It has a stronger flow rate and longer cooling time, consequently, you can quickly immerse yourself in relaxing sleep for up to 8 hours. Meanwhile, thanks to the unique lock structure, your legs and shoulders are kept evenly cool without cold air out and hot air in. Last but not least, this machine can adapt to different environments, maintaining optimal air-conditioning output, even at high altitudes.
Features:
1. Unique mute system, only 30 decibels
2. Comfortable cooling and compression
3. Proven quality and brand
Runner Up: Polar Products Active Ice Therapy System 2.0
Maximum Time: 30 minutes; Weight: 5.5 lbs; Universal Pad: Yes
Looking for a polar ice machine that is used throughout the body? This Polar Products Active Ice Therapy System 2.0 can be applied to all parts – knees, shoulders, back, ankles, elbows, calves, limbs, etc. because of its large universal pad.
Although it cannot last as long as Ossur, it provides stable cooling, including constant temperature, power, and efficiency. So, it will not damage your wounds, in contrast, it relieves pain and accelerates wound healing in a dry and cool environment provided by the active ice system.
Tip: put on ankle compression braces can also help relieve the pain on your feet.
Features:
1. Suitable for all body parts
2. Made in the USA
3. Provide a stable and cool environment for wound recovery
#3. Vive Cold Therapy Machine
Maximum Time: 30 minutes; Weight: 9.8 pounds; Universal Pad: Yes
The next up on the list is Vive Cold Therapy Machine, a knee/shoulder ice machine with a transparent casing and LED display. On the one hand, the transparent shell and watermark tell the water usage, letting you easily know if you need to add water. On the other hand, the LED temperature display and 5 flow rates allow you to customize the required temperature.
In a result, you can experience the cooling process again and again.
Better yet, the 5-inch foam insulated link tube allows you to easily and flexibly move the cooling part and start the ice therapy.
Features:
1. Transparent shell and water mark help you add water more reasonably
2. Up to 5 feet of foam insulated tube
3. Suitable for all parts of the body, and easy to move
#4. Cryotherapy Circulating Personal Cold Water Therapy Ice Machine
Maximum Time: 5 hours; Weight: 5.9 pounds; Universal Pad: Yes
Now, give up the messy ice pack and start using the electric ice pack. When you fix it in the injured position, it does not easily loose or fall off due to movement. Even, you don’t need to frequently change the water.
Just follow the guide to install Cryotherapy Circulating Personal Cold Water Therapy Ice Machine: put water in it, plug in the power, and then fix the universal pad. Then, you’ll get relaxed for 5 hours.
Features：
1. Hospital-level equipment
2. No leaking 52’’ hose
3. The system can cycle up to 5 hours
#5. Aircast Cryo Cuff Knee Cold Therapy Machine
Maximum Time: 5 hours; Weight: 2.2 pounds; Universal Pad: Yes
If you want to find a compact ice machine for knee surgery, just pick the Aircast Cryo Cuff Knee Cold Therapy Machine, the greatest option when your budget is tight.
It’s the cheapest device on the list. But its drawback is not that bad – it only suits for the recovery of the knees. In this case, this machine is specially fit for athletes who often have leg injuries!
Cooling and local compression provided by a non-motorized gravity supply system can help quickly reduce swelling and pain.
Features:
1. Merely suitable for knees
2.Cheap price
3. Non-motorized gravity supply system
#6. Pain Management Technologies Cryotherapy and Hot Water Therapy System
Maximum Time: 5 hours; Weight: 5.8 pounds; Universal Pad: Yes
Would you like to have both hot therapy and cold therapy? Pain Management Technologies Cryotherapy and Hot Water Therapy System – is perfect for you.
An equipment with 2 systems let you save money and storeroom. It would be great because Cold and Hot are typically treating different cases. Cold therapy usually targets at sudden swelling and wounds, while hot therapy can deal with long-term pain.
Either mode safely relieves pain and accelerates the wound recovery.
Features:
1. 15-minute increment time and auto-shutdown
2. The perfect combination of heating and cooling
3. 1700 hours of lifespan
#7. DonJoy Aircast Cryo/Cuff Cold Therapy
Maximum Time: 6-8 hours; Weight: 2.2 pounds; Universal Pad: Yes
Supposing you have a universal pad in your home, then DonJoy Aircast Cryo/Cuff Cold Therapy is the most economical pick. The cold rush cold therapy system is compatible with all Cryo/Cuff and Arctic Flow pads and costs less than $50, which will greatly reduce your expenses.
Not to mention that you can start your own cryotherapy at home. Within 5 minutes, it can last cooling for up to 6 to 8 hours. Or, you can use it after exercise and sports for it can quickly relax your legs to a healthy state for 15 minutes.
Features:
1. Includes only pipe components, plastic fittings and insulation panels
2. Provide 6 to 8 hours of cooling
3. Non-motorized cooler
#8. Thera Freeze Cryotherapy Device
As an ice machine for knee replacement, the Thera Freeze Cryotherapy Device can also be fixed in the shoulder, arm, back, abdomen, buttocks, thighs, knees and other parts for cold therapy. Besides, it does relieve pain and swelling, even though it doesn’t look so stylish.
Furthermore, unlike the cold therapy machine, it acts directly on the injured part, without the limitation of tube assembly. What’s more, the most interesting is that it offers six modes: push, pin, tap, scrape, cupping and random to relieve your pain.
Features：
1. Not subject to tube assembly limitation
2. The price is more favorable
3. Excellent customer service
Tips:
1. After using the ice machine, it is best to disinfect and clean it immediately. Otherwise, it can cause bacterial infections because of contaminated ice machines.
2. Probably, when you use the ice therapy machine for knee, you need a cushion to keep the legs fixed. So here I recommend Milliard Foam Leg Elevator Cushion with Washable Cover.
3. You’d better wear a thin piece of clothing as a buffer between your skin and the pad
4. Typically, the ice therapy device has a temperature range of 45 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit, but different devices may vary.
5. A good device will be equipped with a silent pump, thereby, you don’t have to worry about the equipment affecting your sleep or mood.
How Does Ice Therapy Device Work?
You may search and pick the ice machine for knee/shoulders at the advice of a doctor or professional trainer, but you may not know how it works.
1. Dispel the heat of the area (injured area) in close contact with the universal pad.
2. Reduce the metabolism of the cells, thus ensuring the survival and non-damage of the tissue.
3. Temporarily reduce the peripheral nerves and greatly eases the pain.
4. Therefore, blood circulation in this area will accelerate.
5. Finally, it relieves pain while reducing swelling and inflammation.
Why Choose a Active Ice Therapy System?
With so many cold compression therapy methods, such as Gel Ice Packs, Ice Cold Pack, Why I prefer the ice therapy devices?
Although expensive, it has more to be commended.
1. The role of the ice therapy device is more pronounced in terms of postoperative recovery and pain relief. In this process, it can achieve an uninterrupted cold compress for several hours, most importantly, reducing the intake of anti-inflammatory drugs and analgesics. This is excellent for the patients.
2. Usually, ice therapy machine can be applied to various parts of the body, especially the knees, shoulders, and joints. For example, you can wrap the entire leg for a more cooling effect.
3. Even, it can actively compress your injured part, so that local blood circulation will speed up.
4. It can relieve your pain during sleep, maintaining a better sleep and further promoting wound healing.
5. On top of that, as a hospital-grade device, it will be the most scientifically and effectively for cold therapy because it keeps a constant temperature and protects the injured site from infections.
Features You Need to Check on Medical Ice Machine
Now you know that ice compression machines play an important role in recovery after surgery or injury. Hence, it is necessary to learn how to choose the suitable one.
Next, when choosing, there are some points to consider:
1. Running Time: Most cold icing machines for injuries have a maximum running time of about 6 to 8 hours, which ensures that the patient sleeps without pain. Moreover, a nice machine can customize the runtime, that is, you could confirm when to automatically shut down.
2. Size: If the body of a good cold therapy device is compact, you can easily place it in your room. On the contrary, if the attachment-general pad is preferably large, you can adapt it to any body part.
3. Noise dB: Only the noise is small can you go to sleep while using this device. Finding a low-noise cold therapy set can always keep you in peace, instead of irritability.
4. Quality: Even if you have been using it for a while, a good machine can maintain its original state and all its functions.
The Bottom Line
Among all ice therapy machines recommended, the Ossur Cold Rush Therapy System is the best overall unit because it is durable, quiet and has a strong current. Whether you are a postoperative patient or an athlete who is often injured, you can find your choice in this article.
In addition, our editors describe the biggest highlights of each device. And based on these, you can easily make up your mind.
If you find a better medical ice machine to update our list, leave us a message below!