Are you on a quest to find the best cold packs (ice packs) for back pain?
Then you’re in the right place. Because I have done the hard work for you and have reviewed dozens of models.
In addition, I will introduce the following related topics.
- Product Details (Including advantages and disadvantages)
- Cold Packs (Ice Packs) for Back Pain & Neck Pain Buyer’s Guide
- Types of Ice and Cold Packs
- 6 Kinds of DIY Cold Packs that You Can Make Yourself at Home
- Tips: Ice Application Precautions
…
I will also answer some common questions.
- How Do Cold Ice Packs Benefit You?
- How Does Ice Massage Relieve Pain?
- …
Without further ado, let’s begin!
A simple ice massage is still a highly effective and proven method of treating a sore neck or back even in a world of advanced medical care. It is effective whether used in isolation or when combined with other forms of treatment.
Cold and ice packs help to relieve inflammation, swelling, and pain from pain and other conditions. Ice massage therapy for patients suffering from back pain is a free, easy to do, and quick treatment method that can offer significant relief for various types of back pain. It is quite effective for sore backs due to lower back muscle strain.
Fresh back injuries like a severe pain attack when attempting to lift a heavy object or a lumbar whiplash after a car accident cause the muscles to become inflamed, traumatized, and damaged. Ice might help while heat might worsen the inflammation.
How Do Cold Ice Packs Benefit You? How Does Ice Massage Relieve Pain?
After applying a cold ice pack to the area where you are experiencing the pain, the low temperature of the ice helps numb the area affected and the pain you are experiencing will lessen. Besides this, for you to experience the pain relief you desire, applying the cold ice packs also leads to a constriction of the blood vessels to the area. It is the reasons why this is regarded as one of the most effective options for reducing the blood flow to the injured area and effectively reduces the swelling.
Ice massages provide back pain relief in several ways:
- Ice reduces the damage to tissues.
- Application of ice slows the nerve impulses in the area thereby interrupting the pain-spasm reaction between nerves.
- Ice helps to numb sore tissues, which provides relief in a way similar to local anesthetic.
- Application of the ice reduces swelling and slows the inflammation that occurs after the injury. Back pain is typically accompanied by some form of inflammation and addressing it helps reduce pain.
- Massage has the beneficial aspects of gentle manipulation of soft tissues.
Ice massage therapy is more effective the sooner it is applied after the occurrence of the injury, typically within 24 to 48 hours. The cold results in contraction of the veins in the tissues thus reducing circulation. Upon removal of the cold, veins overcompensate and dilate since blood rushes into the area. The blood infused into the area has the nutrients required to help heal the injured back muscles, tendons, and ligaments.
Comparison Table – Best Cold Packs (Ice Packs) for Back Pain & Neck Pain
Best Cold Packs (Ice Packs) for Back Pain & Neck Pain
- Chattanooga ColPac Cold Therapy, Blue Vinyl, Large/Standard-Size Cold Pack
- FlexiKold Gel Cold Pack
- Chattanooga ColPac Cold Therapy, Black Polyurethane, X-Large/Oversized Cold Pack
- TheraPAQ Pain Relief Ice Pack with Strap for Hot & Cold Therapy
- NatraCure Universal Cold Pack Ice Wrap
- CryoMAX Reusable, Latex Free, 8 Hour Cold Pack
- ColePak Comfort Ice Packs
- Koo-Care 2 Flexible Gel Ice Pack and 1 Wrap with Elastic Velcro Strap for Hot / Cold Therapy
- Raniaco Gel Ice Pack,Hot Cold Therapy Wrap with Flexible Velcro Strap for Waist Head Back Neck Shoulder Ankle Sports Muscle Pain Relief
- CryoCup – Set of Two
1. Chattanooga ColPac Cold Therapy, Blue Vinyl, Large/Standard-Size Cold Pack – Editors’ Choice & Best Seller
- Patented design of the Chattanooga ColPac gently delivers soothing...
- Provides instant pain relief to treat fever, bruises, sprains,...
- Each cold therapy pack is latex-free and is filled with non-toxic...
- Simply apply immediately after an injury to control the inflammation...
- ColPaC is most serviceable when kept in a freezer set at 12° F...
Chattanooga ColPac designed this amazing product that delivers a soothing effect during cold therapy. It treats fever and instantly provides relief for bruises, sprains, strains, while at the same time managing the swelling.
- Doctors, trainers, and physical therapists recommend it.
- It is highly durable and used as a first safety kit in various team sports.
- It is latex-free and filled with silica gel, which makes it safe for use by people of different ages.
- Easy to use on the affected area and easily brings the inflammation of the soft tissue under control.
- Provides instant relief from various types of pain that last for about 30 minutes.
- Seams break easily.
2. FlexiKold Gel Cold Pack
- Colder For Longer: Reusable ice packs for injuries with proprietary...
- More Flexible: The Most Flexible Cold Pack available due to the best...
- Healthcare Professional's Choice: The large ice pack used by thousands...
- Premium Construction: Each gel cold pack compress is built with...
- Fast Pain Relief: for anywhere you need a cold pack compress:...
Cold therapy administered using this product will leave you experiencing relief from pain. It is double sealed to keep the gel contained properly. It is quite thin since it does not contain a lot of gel, but it still does get quite cold. It is more pliable and flexible since it contains less gel than other products. It helps with muscle pain, swelling, and inflammation. The nylon cover is quite convenient compared to the plastic variety and is smooth to the touch. A neck contour version of this product is available designed specifically for the management of neck pain. It is highly durable and a great product for those that regularly use it. It costs more than other options on this list but it is worth the price.
- It is suitable for use on the back
- It comes in multiple sizes
- It is made of easy-to-clean material
- It retains the cold for hours meaning that you could potentially sleep with it
- It covers an incredibly large area of the body
- Buyers have complained about the lack of sufficient gel moving from one side to the other
3. Chattanooga ColPac Cold Therapy, Black Polyurethane, X-Large/Oversized Cold Pack
- Designed especially for heavy clinic use in cold therapy, choose from...
- ColPac provides effective relief of pain from cold therapy
- ColPacs filled with non-toxic silica gel that will remain pliable...
- Delivers up to 30 minutes of cold therapy soothing relief from acute...
- One year warranty
It is not made of lightweight material but it easily covers the whole of the body and provides quick pain relief. It is latex-free, which means that it will not irritate skin. The gel is made of quality substance that does not harden too much. When compared to other spot cold packs, leaking won’t be a problem with this product and it is made of highly flexible material. It is quite an effective remedy against swelling. It is a compress for multiple body parts and contours them well.
- Highly durable and does not stretch after multiple usages
- It stays in one position and does not slide
- The price is quite great for such a large ice pack
- It retains the cold for up to 30 minutes
- It requires just 2 hours in the freezer to be ready
- Quite bulky
- It is for cold therapy only and should not be put in a microwave
- You should not sleep with it
4. TheraPAQ Pain Relief Ice Pack with Strap for Hot & Cold Therapy
- ☑️ ESSENTIAL - Reuseable Hot & Cold Gel Pack with adjustable extra...
- ☑️ REUSABLE - Can be used for BOTH warm and cold compression. The...
- ☑️ FAST RELIEF, ANYTIME, ANYWHERE - Keep one handy in your fridge...
- ☑️ TRUSTED - Recommended by Physical Therapists, Doctors, Sports...
- ☑️ ORDER NOW WITH PEACE OF MIND knowing that we have a 100% MONEY...
It is a reusable gel pack used as a heat wrap or cold pack and suitable for injuries to the back, waist, shoulders, claves, neck, ankle, hip, and various other parts of the body. It is why many people consider it a first aid product essential for body aches, muscle pains, and sport injuries. It is made from non-toxic gel filled in a flexible, leak proof, plastic container and has been FDA approved and certified.
- Chiropractors, sports trainers, and physical therapists recommend it.
- It can be used for either heat or cold therapy because the ice pack gel is reusable i.e. you can freeze it or heat it in a microwave.
- It offers quick pain relief wherever you are whatever the time you need it.
- It offers amazing flexibility in terms of injury treatment because it comes with a flexible strap that is long and wide enough to make it comfortable and secure on the body.
- If you are a big person, you won’t be able to wrap the Velcro strap round your waist.
5. NatraCure Universal Cold Pack Ice Wrap
- Also available with 2 Gel Packs for greater money-saving value.
- COLDER FOR LONGER: Proprietary clay cold pack stays colder for longer...
- MORE FLEXIBLE: Professional-grade clay interior stays pliable when...
- SIZE: 5" x 10" with 24" nylon strap. Includes one (1) cold therapy gel...
- COLD THERAPY RELIEF: within seconds, chills the knee, elbow, shoulder,...
NaturaCare is a brand that uses biodegradable materials. The ice pack is quite pliable and can be curved in any way you please around the shoulder, ankle, knee, as well as other parts of the body. The Velcro strap ensures that the pack stays in place. It is quite thin and lightweight, which makes it quite comfortable. Inflammation or sprain pain will disappear within a short period of time. It is also great for plantar fasciitis. It is great for those suffering from Carpal tunnel syndrome. It is definitely worth the price although it is not that expensive. You can actually sleep on it.
- Starts to relieve pain in a matter of seconds
- It is removable and washable
- It is flexible and soft
- It is easy to adjust the tightness and replace the ice pack
- It takes less than one hour to get cold
- Reviewers state that it could hold the cold for a longer period.
6. CryoMAX Reusable, Latex Free, 8 Hour Cold Pack
- ULTRA LONG LASTING- CryoMAX uses patented Points-of-Cold technology to...
- FLEXIBLE- Stays flexible when frozen and contours easily to any part...
- NO COLD SPOTS- Unlike other cold packs, our patented Points-of-Cold...
- REUSABLE and DURABLE - CryoMAX can be frozen and refrozen thousands of...
- VERSATILE- CryoMAX's cold therapy can be used for a variety of acute...
Cryo-Max Cold Packs uses unique technology that allows the cold pack to retain the cold for up to 8 hours. The dimensions of the medium-sized Cryo-MAX are 12″ by 6″ and also has an adjustable support wrap that has Velcro straps. You will no longer have to worry about pain in various parts of the body and you will find the product highly beneficial. It has started gaining recognition in the market and community and many people actually use it.
- It offers the right fit to allow for easy mobility.
- It is reusable, which makes it a worthy investment.
- Incredibly flexible and easy to use.
- It retains the cold for up to 8 hours.
- It Easily Leaks
7. ColePak Comfort Ice Packs
- ✔Save Your Money - With 2 reusable ice packs ,1 ice wrap holder...
- ✔ Reusable & Easy to Use: Keep one in the freezer or heat in the...
- ✔A Trusted Brand - With a 4.6 star rating from over 700+ reviews,...
- ✔Ice Packs that Stay in Place - Enjoy the convenience of no longer...
- ☞ Try ColePak Comfort Ice Packs today! If you are not satisfied, we...
It is a product designed for neck, upper back, head, ankle, shoulder, arm, or knee injuries and provides great relief within just a few minutes. If you would like to ease your pain, this is the most suitable product for you.
- It is quite lightweight and can be easily carried anywhere you would like to go.
- Convenient and easy to use if you have sustained injuries.
- It can help you save on costs since it comes with 2 reusable hot and cold gel packs.
- It might be small to wrap on the lower back portion of the body.
8. Koo-Care 2 Flexible Gel Ice Pack and 1 Wrap with Elastic Velcro Strap for Hot / Cold Therapy
- Good Value For Money - Includes 2 nylon non-toxic gel packs (11'' x...
- Fast Relief - Keep one handy in your freezer for grab-and-go comfort...
- Multipurpose - The gel packs are reusable and can be frozen, heated or...
- Essential - First aid essential for home or clinical use as it is...
- Guaranteed: 1-Year Warranty - a Free No-Hassle Replacement Process!
If you love engaging in sports activities and sustain some injuries, this is the product to help ease the pain and treat the injury. It is flexible, soft, reusable, and microwaveable and comes with 2 large gel packs and much more. It is due to this reason that athletes love using the product and often include it in their kits.
- It is a first aid essential to manage any muscle pain or sports injuries.
- It is a great hot and cold compress.
- The temperature does not last as long as can be expected.
9. Raniaco Gel Ice Pack,Hot Cold Therapy Wrap with Flexible Velcro Strap for Waist Head Back Neck Shoulder Ankle Sports Muscle Pain Relief
If you wish to be free of the pain you are experiencing, you should choose this product. It can be used either as a cold or a hot pack. It is used to help relieve pain in the head, ankle, shoulder, neck, and back. It is reusable and can be used for different conditions ranging from toothaches to pulled muscles. It is made of very smooth material. To experience relief, just toss it into the microwave oven. If you want a cold pack, you should consider putting it in the freezer. It does not drip the gel contained within it on your clothes.
- It gets cold quite fast
- The Velcro straps keep it in place and allow for easy adjustment of the tightness.
- Lightweight and small
- Suitable for sports injuries such as pulled muscles and sprains
- Easy to use
- Users have complained about one section having too much gel compared to the other 2.
10. CryoCup – Set of Two
- Convenient, easy to use, cost-effective icer
- Made of plastic with cool retardant handle; simply fill cup with water...
- Ready to use for ice massage, sensory stimulation, or splint cooling
- Indefinitely reuseable, easy to sterilize, and comfortable to...
- An ideal tool for the clinic or home
It is a handy ice massage tool capable of breathing life into sore and tired legs. Research has shown that icing is more effective when some pressure is applied. In the motion of moving the CryoCup around, you will easily understand how the method easily reaches deeper into the muscle tissue to produce better results. One point of caution when you are applying the ice directly to the skin is to ensure that you never overexpose a particular area since this can cause frostbite. Your fingers will not freeze when you are applying the ice and the product is quite eco-friendly. Ice massages can be life changing especially if you have never tried them before.
- Easy to use, Straight and Straightforward
- Easy to clean and indefinitely reusable
- Can be used for general muscle workover, splint cooling, or sensory stimulation
- Plastic handle is a poor conductor of cold temperatures thus leaving the hands unaffected
- Convenient, user friendly, self-icing tool
- It can start to crack after extensive use because of the repeated cold/hot transitions.
Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Right Cold Ice Packs for Back Pain & Neck Pain
We always work hard to ensure that our readers are satisfied with the choices that they make. Here are some of the key factors to take into consideration before you make the decision to buy a particular product.
Your Special Needs
It is important to take into consideration the kind of injury you have to find a suitable fit in the area of body that is affected. Consider whether the cold packs will allow you to move if you apply them. Find out whether the product can be easily included in your belongings should you ever need to travel. Find out about the products that are always ready to use if you need them instantly.
Time of Working and Hot Usage
It is an important concern that should be addressed. People often complain about the inability of products to retain the cold for a long time. A good ice pack should ideally be placed on the body for about 20 to 30 minutes without losing the cold. Buyers also rend to choose products that double up as hot packs, which means that they are put in the microwave instead of the freezer.
Size
The aim of usage is another important consideration to choose a product of the right size. If you plan to use it on small parts of the body such as the hands or knees, it is not necessary to buy a large one. However, if you want a product that provides relief to the back, arms, or shoulders, you will need a different approach. It is important to know that ice packs should fit around the whole area of the leg, arm, etc. It is more preferable to buy a larger one since it could be a bit heavier but still works with smaller body parts. It is also important to remember not to choose a product that is too heavy even for the back since you will have trouble putting it in your freezer.
Material
Ice packs should be made of durable, high quality, and very pliable material to fit the body properly. Seams should be properly made and should not split easily or else your clothes will be covered by the gel or whatever substance is contained within the ice pack. Once you take your ice pack outside the freezer, the substance contained within it should be flexible and fit the shape of the limb easily. Avoid products whose liquid contents stay on one side of the pack only.
Types of Ice and Cold Packs
Ice packs or ice therapy application procedures that help provide pain relief are of 3 different types. They are not only used for relieving shoulder, neck, and upper back pain but also aid the treatment of other ailments including migraine, headache, or fatigue. The packs include:
– Reusable Ice or Cold Pack
It is mostly available in form of a gel filled bag or pack and is the most common type. You can keep these packs in your refrigerator for use when required. You can re-freeze them and use them multiple times for many years. You can easily buy one at online stores such as Amazon or even your local drug store.
– Instant/Disposable Ice Packs
Single use ice packs have the benefit of becoming cold almost immediately due to a chemical reaction that occurs after the “cracking” of the pack. Single use cold packs are always ready for use, which means that prior planning with regards to putting the ice pack into your freezer is not necessary. The other benefit is that the chemical reaction allows the pack to remain cold for an extended period of time when it is used at room temperature. The main drawback associated with disposable ice packs is that they are single use only, which makes them more expensive than homemade or reusable ice packs. You can find a variety of disposable, instant packs at most general merchandise stores and drug stores.
– Homemade Ice Pack
If you are a DIY enthusiast and prefer to make your own ice pack at home, you can try making one using items that are readily available in your home. Older individuals that suffer from conditions such as arthritis can use the homemade ice packs for reducing the swelling and inflammation as and when needed. The details about some of the DIY methods are discussed below.
6 Kinds of DIY Cold Packs that You Can Make Yourself at Home
Homemade DIY ice wraps for shoulder and neck pains are a great ice therapy tool that usually retains a cold temperature longer than other methods. The following are some of the more popular methods used by people to make homemade ice wraps:
1. Ice Cubes, Towel and Plastic Bag
The regular ice cubes from the freezer are a simple tool that ice therapy uses. In order to make an ice pack, just put the amount of ice that you want into a plastic bag (baggie) and then squeeze all of the air from the bag before you seal it. Some people like adding a little water to their ice to prevent the bag from being too lumpy. To protect your skin from burn wrap the bag in a towel before you apply the ice pack to your painful area.
2. Frozen Sponge
Partially wet a small part of a sponge. Put it inside of a sealable plastic bag and then let it freeze inside of your freezer. Once it is frozen (in around half an hour) you can apply it to your joint for relief. To help protect your skin against ice burn you can wrap the baggie up in a cloth or towel.
3. Frozen towel
To make a cold pack out of a towel, put a damp, fold towel inside of plastic bag and place it in your freezer for approximately ten to twenty minutes. You can then remove the towel from the plastic bag and put it on painful area.
4. Frozen Vegetables
This is a quick way to get treatment. This method can be used in case you need to urgently have ice therapy.Take out a bag of frozen vegetables out of your freezer and then apply it to your affected painful area after wrapping it up in a soft cloth or clean towel.
5. Sock and Rice
Take part of a clean sock and fill it up with rice. Use a couple of stitches or a safety pin to close the open end of the sock. Put the sock inside of your freeze and then take the frozen pack out in around an hour. The major benefit to using rice in the rice bag is that it will get as old as ice doesn’t but won’t melt quickly when you are using the pack.
6. Gel Ice Pack
You can make this will a plastic baggie and liquid dishwasher detergent. Pour liquid detergent in the bag and let it freeze for around a half an hour inside the freezer. This kind of ice pack get the same type of consistency that a gel pack that you can purchase in a store does.
Tips: Ice Application Precautions
Applying ice and using ice therapy requires observing some precautions as with all pain relief treatments. Ice packs used for massage might greatly help to relieve bodily pain such as shoulder and neck pains, but they can still affect health adversely if used improperly or without the right care.
Here are some precautionary measures to follow strictly before giving or taking ice massage using ice packs.
- Apply only up to a given number of times a day (e.g. up to 8 or 10 times within a 24-hour period).
- Don’t apply ice for longer than 15 to 20 minutes at any given time. Ensure that you never fall asleep with the ice on the skin.
- Alternating between cold and heat therapy provides the most pain relief for most people. Use heat for 15 to 20 minutes followed by heat for 10 to 15 minutes a few hours later.
- Avoid applying ice directly to skin. A better approach would be to ensure that you have a protective barrier between skin and ice, such as a towel.
- If minimal or no improvement at all is observed even after taking the ice massage severally you should consult a good physician at once to find the source of the pain.
- Ice application and ice massage is generally most helpful within the first 48 hours after sustaining an injury that strains the muscles in the back. After the initial period, heat therapy is more advantageous to the process of healing.
- Ice massage should always be given with slow motions. Keeping the ice static on the surface of the body will cause instant numbness that can lead to pain aggression.
- Ice massage should be given until the target area gets pink and cold but not numb. Numbness is one dangerous symptom that needs to be avoided in ice therapy.
- Ice should be applied to patients suffering from certain medical conditions, such as patients suffering from Raynaud’s Syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, paralysis, cold allergic conditions, or areas with impaired sensation.
Conclusion
If you suffer from painful conditions but have not tried ice or cold packs yet, you need to give them a try as a form of first aid. It is all natural and you will fall in love with the benefits it offers your aching body parts.
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Editors’ Choice & Best Seller
- Patented design of the Chattanooga ColPac gently delivers soothing...
- Provides instant pain relief to treat fever, bruises, sprains,...
- Each cold therapy pack is latex-free and is filled with non-toxic...
- Simply apply immediately after an injury to control the inflammation...
- ColPaC is most serviceable when kept in a freezer set at 12° F...
I’m Lucas. I used to be a back pain sufferer, but I’ve recovered. I created BestforBackPain.com to help others find relief without going to physical therapy or expensive medication.
Last update on 2021-01-10 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API