Ice Machine vs. Ice Bath: Which One is the Better Option for you?

Whether playing football or skiing on a slope to improve your exercise, accidents are usual. As we live our lives, accidents of all kinds happen to us, but how do we deal with such injuries to get up to our feet in the shortest time possible? Treating the injured parts with cold therapy reduces the pain and inflammation. One has to choose between two therapies in such a situation: the game-ready ice machine or an ice bath.

In this article, we will discuss the differences between a game ready ice machine and an ice bath, as well as the advantages of cold therapy overall

Why Game Ready Ice Machines Are Preferred Over Ice Baths

1.    Game-ready ice machines provide targeted healing.

Ice baths are only suitable for a whole-body treatment. They are not particular to the point of injury as it is for game-ready ice machines that come with attachments designed to treat specific injury points like the knees or shoulders.

2.    Ice baths can lead to other minor injuries.

If you have suffered a knee injury, you are hampered from movement. Therefore, getting ice-cold water may be from a freezer, and there is a possibility of having other associated injuries along the way. This is not the case for game-ready ice machines where a complete therapy is administered to the patient without necessarily moving to get it.

3.    Game-ready ice machines are more convenient and portable.

It is not easy to obtain a constant temperature from ice packs, and therefore the ice might melt more quickly than expected. But with a game ready ice machine, it is possible to obtain a constant temperature because cold water is circulated throughout the game ready ice machine cooling unit.

4.    Less pain during recovery time.

Ice machines relieve pain by numbing the nerve endings of the injured part. This delays the communication between the point of injury and the brain, making the patient feel less pain during the recovery process. On the other hand, ice baths numb the entire body’s nerve system, making them less effective in relieving pain.

5.    Ice machines are more efficient than ice baths

It is clinically proven that the combination of ice-cold and compression is more efficient than the application of ice therapy alone. Compressions enable the cold to penetrate deeper into the injured part, thereby minimizing the flow of blood and restricting swelling.

Summary

Game-ready Ice machines have been ranked to be more efficient than ice baths in terms of pain removal, the convenience of application, and portability. This suitability has significantly been attributed to their excellent design factors, usability, and effectiveness. Ice machines are easily portable, which makes them useful in sporting events like football and skiing. Additionally, ice machines require minimal maintenance costs.