In a physical therapy or chiropractic clinic as well as in an athletic training facility, it’s important to have use of durable, effective ice packs to treat patients and athletes for injured or inflamed body parts. Being in chiropractic practice for over 23 years, I have found the Colpac ice pack by Chattanooga to be my favorite due to its durability, it’a ability to stay cold and its pliability to fit around almost any body part.
Here I’d like to add my input to the Best Reusable Ice Pack Reviews.
Product Specifics
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Colpac Ice Pack 12.5″ x 18.5″ Product: Chattanooga Colpac reusable gel ice pack
- Price: $20.79
- Where to buy: Amazon
- Size 12.5″ x 18.5″
- Materials: Polyurethane outer, Silca gel inner
- Guarantee: Amazon Return Policy
- My Rating: 5*/5*
You can purchase other sizes of this ice pack and ice packs that are shaped for icing the neck, but if you can only have one, I like this one for its versatility.
Benefits
A great way to ice a larger body part such as back, shoulder, hip, and thigh, however works great for knee as well. When I use it on my knee I tend to fold it in half. It can also be wrapped around the knee. Place a towel under a supported leg, with knee extended, mold the Colpac ice pack around the knee. Be sure to have a bandanna or thin towel between the ice pack and the body part to protect the skin and prevent ice burn.
How will this product help you
This product works well for icing a body part that has been injured, for recovery after exercise or exertion, for everyday aches and pains and pulled muscles. It’s made of a durable polyurethane material that is flexible and comfortable. The silica material inside the pack is very pliable making it easy to wrap around or apply to most body parts.
Pros and Cons
The pros are durability, pliability, and effectively stays cold for 30 minutes. Its soft and comfortable while icing an injury (other than the initial discomfort of the cold).
The cons, well there really aren’t any except I purchased one once that after a while started to leak. That could have been because of the way I was storing it in my freezer, uncovered, folded in half and shoved in whatever space happened to be available in the freezer. The only other thing that is very preventable is if you put the ice pack straight onto your skin without a towel between the ice pack and your skin, it can give you an ice burn.
Proper use and Care of the Colpac ice pack
When you first receive your Colpac Ice Pack, remove it from it’s packaging. Place the ice pack in a freezer no colder than 0 degrees Fahrenheit. Be sure that it is placed flat in the freezer. After 2 hours it will be ready to go.
As mentioned previously, make sure to place a towel or bandanna between your skin and the ice pack. Ice the injured body part for up to and not exceeding 20 minutes.
It is best to NOT sit, lay, or sleep on Colpac.
When finished, be sure to wipe off all the moisture on the ice pack and place it in a resealable plastic back (this helps to extend the life of the ice pack) and again, place the ice pack flat in the freezer.
For an acute injury, you can ice for up to 20 minutes every hour for a couple of days. Best to get directions from your doctor or physical therapist for specific instructions for your injury.
The Colpac is not intended to be used as a hot pack. Only use for cold therapy.
The sooner after an injury that you ice, the better. Once the injured body part begins to swell, this slows down the healing process. Icing immediately after injury can speed up the healing process.
Check out my post on How to Treat a Swollen Knee.
Conclusion
I hope this post on the best reusable ice pack reviews has been helpful to you.
This review is not meant to diagnose any health issue or give you a treatment plan. Ultimately you must seek the guidance of your doctor or physical therapist for an appropriate treatment plan for your injury.
Having been an athlete for most of my life and having multiple injuries over the years, ice has been my friend. Now I’m an older athlete with plenty of osteoarthritis in my joints. I find icing my knees and my low back to be very comforting and healing post exercise, or if I’m having a particularly uncomfortable day.
I would love to hear from you about how icing has worked for you. Please let me know if you have any questions. I will do my very best to get back to you promptly.
In Good Health,
DrDina
This was a great product review of ice packs for helping with inflammation of muscles. Great job writing out pros and cons and different interesting points regarding ice packs. I am actually possibly interested in buying the product as it could help me out with back pain.Have a wonderful day!
Hi Reginald! Thanks for visiting my site. I’m glad that you found my post interesting. Let me know if you have any further questions.
All the best,
DrDina:)
Hello, Dina.
Enjoyed reading your post on ice packs. They have been my friends over the years as well. I’ve used them on sore backs, shoulders and ankles from time to time. Seems to be the common recommendation from doctors along with a heat from time to time which increases blood flow and loosens sore muscles as well.
What I like about them is the fact that they so easily form/mould to the area that needs treatment thus covering the full area. I also like that they are made from gel and not Ice. Ice can be messy when it starts to melt and run everywhere. Gel packs are self-contained and easier to store. They can sweat a little but not as messy as Ice.
Your post has also been a reminder (in not so many words) that I should probably replace the ones I have had for the last probably 10 years. They have held up well with no leaks (so far).
I will have to look into getting some newer ones soon so thanks again for the post and the thought of replacing mine soon.
All the best,
Wayne
Hi Wayne,
Thanks for visiting my site and for your comment. I’m glad that I could help .
Take care,
DrDina:)