Version July 2025
Please read the Disclaimer at the end of this page.
What is cold therapy? —
Cold therapy is a way to help ease pain. It is also called "cryotherapy." Cold lowers body temperature and reduces blood flow to an area. This can help ease swelling and bleeding. Cold also reduces nerve activity, meaning fewer pain signals go to the brain. Cold can also help with muscle spasms.
Cold therapy is most helpful for recent injuries, swelling, and pain. It is the "I" in "PRICE" (protection, rest, ice, compression, elevation) that is often prescribed after an injury.
Cold therapy might help in many conditions. Examples include:
●Arthritis
●Tendon injury (tendons connect muscles to bones)
●Muscle and ligament sprains and strains
●Muscle spasms
●Muscle soreness that happens after a strenuous workout
●After surgery
How do I use cold therapy? —
Ask your doctor or nurse if you have questions about what type of cold therapy is best for you and how long to use it. In general, here are ways you can use cold at home:
●Ice packs – Apply a cold gel pack, bag of ice, or bag of frozen vegetables on your sore area every 1 to 2 hours for 15 minutes at a time. Put a thin towel between the ice (or other cold object) and your skin.
●Ice massage – Move a small cup of ice or an ice cube back and forth over the sore part. Keep the ice moving for 10 to 15 minutes at a time, and do not hold it in 1 place. Repeat every 1 to 2 hours.
●Coolant gels or sprays – These can be bought without a prescription. You apply them on your skin around the sore part. Use these as directed, usually up to 3 or 4 times every day. Do not use these on open sores.
●Cold compress – Wet a washcloth with very cold water or ice water, and put it on the sore part. Change the compress when it starts to get warm.
●Chemical cold packs – You can buy these single-use packs without a prescription. Use them as you would an ice pack.
●Ice bath – This is putting the sore part into a container of icy water for a short time. Most people use an ice bath for up to 10 to 15 minutes at a time once a day or every few days.
●Cold therapy units – These are often used after orthopedic surgery. You plug the unit in, and fill it with ice water. Then, you wrap a special sleeve around the sore part, and the unit circulates cold water through the sleeve. You can use this for several hours at a time.
Is cold therapy safe for everyone? —
No. Do not use cold to treat pain if you get hives, swelling, or other symptoms when exposed to cold. (These are signs of a possible cold allergy.)
Check with your doctor or nurse before using cold therapy on:
●Body parts that have problems with sensation or feeling, or if the part is already numb
●Your hands or feet if you have Raynaud phenomenon (when the fingers and toes turn white or purple-blue from cold or stress)
●Skin that has poor blood flow
●Skin with open sores
●An area with an infection
What are the risks of cold therapy? —
Ask your doctor or nurse about the possible risks of using cold therapy. Possible risks include:
●Frostbite
●Numbness or tingling
●Skin irritation
●Ongoing pain
What else should I know?
●Always put a thin towel between the ice (or other cold object) and your skin.
●Use the ice (or other cold object) for at least 1 day after an injury. It might help to ice longer, even up to 2 days.
●You can make your own gel ice pack at home. Mix 1 cup (240 mL) of rubbing alcohol with 2 cups (480 mL) of water, and freeze it in a bag.
●Your skin should return to its normal color shortly after stopping cold therapy. Call your doctor if your skin remains discolored, has blisters, or swells.
Patient education: Managing acute pain at home (The Basics)
Patient education: Managing pain after surgery (The Basics)
Patient education: Chronic pain (The Basics)
Patient education: Sprains (The Basics)
Patient education: Muscle strain (The Basics)
Patient education: Muscle spasms (muscle cramps) (The Basics)
