Cold therapy is commonly used after orthopedic surgery to help manage pain and swelling. Most people are familiar with using ice packs, but if you’re icing several times a day for a week or two, constantly rotating frozen packs can get inconvenient pretty quickly.
That’s where a cold compression machine can help.
These machines circulate cold water through a wrap that sits around the treatment area. Some systems also add compression, which helps keep the wrap snug around the joint and provides more consistent coverage than a regular ice pack.
What Is Cold Compression Therapy?
Cold compression therapy combines two things often used during recovery:
- Cold therapy, which may help reduce pain and swelling
- Compression, which applies pressure around the treatment area
The machine circulates chilled water through a wrap designed for a specific part of the body, such as the knee, shoulder, hip or ankle. Instead of trying to hold an ice pack in place, the wrap stays around the joint while the machine continuously circulates cold water through it.
For someone recovering at home, it can simply be a more convenient way to keep up with regular icing sessions.
Why Is Cold Therapy Used After Surgery?
Swelling and discomfort are normal after many orthopedic procedures, especially during the first several days of recovery. Cold therapy is often recommended during this period because it may help reduce pain and swelling around the surgical area.
How often you should use it depends on the procedure and your surgeon’s instructions. Some patients may use cold therapy several times throughout the day, while others may be given a different recovery schedule.
Your surgeon or physiotherapist should always be the one to tell you how often and for how long to use cold therapy.
What Does the Compression Do?
The compression part of the system helps keep the wrap firmly against the treatment area. This can be especially useful around joints that are difficult to ice evenly, such as the knee or shoulder.
Rather than balancing an ice pack on top of the area, the wrap surrounds more of the joint and stays in place while you’re sitting or lying down.
Cold Compression Machine vs. Ice Packs
There’s nothing wrong with regular ice packs. They’re inexpensive, easy to find and may be perfectly fine if you only need occasional cold therapy. The difference becomes more noticeable when you’re using cold therapy repeatedly every day.
Ice packs
With regular ice packs, you may find yourself:
- Waiting for packs to refreeze
- Rotating several packs throughout the day
- Trying to keep them positioned on the joint
- Dealing with uneven coverage
- Replacing them once they warm up
Cold compression machines
A cold compression machine is built for repeated use. You fill the unit with ice and water, connect the wrap and use it whenever your recovery schedule calls for cold therapy. The wrap also covers more of the treatment area than most standard ice packs.
If you’ve been told to ice several times per day for a week or two, the convenience difference can be significant.
What Types of Surgery Commonly Use Cold Therapy?
Cold therapy is used after many orthopedic procedures. Whether it’s appropriate for you will depend on your surgery and your doctor’s recommendations.
Knee surgery
Cold therapy is very common after knee procedures, including knee replacement and many sports-related surgeries. A knee wrap surrounds the joint and makes it easier to cool the front, sides and surrounding area at the same time.
Shoulder surgery
The shoulder is one of the more awkward areas to ice with a regular ice pack. A shoulder wrap is shaped to sit around the joint and upper arm, which can make cold therapy much easier during recovery.
Hip surgery
Cold therapy may also be recommended after hip replacement and other hip procedures to help with postoperative pain and swelling.
Ankle and foot surgery
Swelling is common after many ankle and foot procedures, and cold therapy may be included as part of the recovery plan. In all cases, follow the instructions given by your surgeon or physiotherapist.
Do You Need to Buy a Cold Compression Machine?
For most people recovering from a single surgery, probably not. If you only expect to use the equipment during the first one or two weeks of recovery, buying a machine can mean spending a lot of money on something that may sit unused afterward.
Renting is often a simpler option. You get the machine for the part of your recovery when you actually need it, then return it when you’re done. This is especially useful if you already know your surgery date and want everything ready before you come home.
Cold Compression Machine Rentals in Toronto & the GTA
Cold Compression Rentals provides cold compression therapy machine rentals throughout Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area. We make the process straightforward. Your rental can include:
You can view our cold compression rental equipment and available wraps before choosing the option that fits your treatment area.
- Cold compression machine
- The appropriate wrap for your treatment area
- Home delivery
- Setup
- Basic instructions on how to use the equipment
- Pickup when your rental is finished
You don’t have to wait for a machine to arrive in the mail or worry about shipping it back afterward. We deliver the equipment directly to you and pick it up when you’re finished.
Which Areas Can Be Treated?
Different wraps are available depending on where you need cold therapy. Common options include:
- Knee
- Shoulder
- Hip
- Ankle
- Wrist
- Back
- Universal areas
The right wrap will depend on your surgery and treatment area.
When Should You Arrange Your Rental?
If you already have a surgery date and know you’ll need cold therapy afterward, it usually makes sense to arrange the rental in advance. That way, the equipment can be delivered before your surgery or around the time you return home.
If you’ve already had surgery, you can still arrange a rental during your recovery, depending on availability.
Always Follow Your Surgeon’s Instructions
Cold therapy is commonly used after orthopedic surgery, but every procedure and every patient is different. Follow your surgeon’s or physiotherapist’s instructions about when to use cold therapy, how long each session should last and whether compression is appropriate for you.
If the treatment area becomes excessively numb, painful or uncomfortable, stop using the equipment and contact your healthcare provider.
Sources and further reading
For general guidance on cold therapy and postoperative care, see the HealthLink BC guide to cold and heat therapies and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons’ knee replacement recovery guidance.
Looking for a Cold Compression Machine Rental in the GTA?
If you’re preparing for surgery or recovering at home, renting can give you access to a cold compression system without having to purchase one outright. Cold Compression Rentals offers home delivery, setup and pickup throughout Toronto and the GTA.