The Best Elbow Ice Packs

Elbow pain is more common than you might think, and not just among athletes and factory workers. Your elbows have a multitude of ligaments and muscles that help you move your elbows, forearms, and even wrists—many working overtime. Luckily, ice packs can help to reduce the inflammation and pain of many elbow conditions and injuries. With this in mind, check out our list of the best elbow ice packs.

Causes of Elbow Pain

Since we use our elbows thousands of times per day to complete essential actions such as lifting or throwing, they are vulnerable to sprains, strains, or simple wear and tear. Here are just a few causes of elbow pain.

• Repetitive Movements

  Wear and tear injuries are caused by repetitive movements, and are common among individuals who work on factories, offices, and many other environments. An elbow ice pack or brace can help support the joint during these times, to help prevent injury.

• Medical Condition

  Elbow pain can be caused by a medical condition, such as rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis happens when your immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s healthy tissue, causing swelling in the joints. Osteoarthritis, on the other hand, is caused by the wear and tear of elbow cartilage. Elbow pain can also be caused by referred pain from a spine injury or nerve entrapment caused by damage to the radial nerve in the arm.

• Injury

  From simple sprains and strains to fractures, elbow injuries are a part of life. Strains are caused by stretched or torn muscles, while sprains are due to torn ligaments. These are very common, particularly among athletes. Dislocations happen when one of the elbow bones is pushed out of place. This can be caused by putting the hand out to break a fall. Fractured elbows are usually caused by sudden blows.

Should You Use Ice or Heat for Elbow Pain?

While both heat and cold therapy can help to alleviate elbow discomfort, knowing when to use them can be tricky. Here is a quick guide to get you started.

• Cold Therapy

  Cryotherapy can alleviate inflammation by slowing down blood circulation in the affected area. It can also numb the elbow to reduce the discomfort associated with injuries. Cold therapy is most effective during the first 48 hours following an injury—apply an ice pack for around 20 minutes every four to six hours. In addition, cryotherapy can alleviate the discomfort of conditions such as gout and tendinitis, or irritation of the tendons.

  Ice therapy machines are a unique way of getting direct cold therapy where you need it.

• Heat Therapy

  Heat pads are used to increase blood circulation, which can soothe sore muscles and reduce the buildup of lactic acid after exercise. Thermotherapy can also help to alleviate the discomfort of sore joints caused by arthritis, and strains and sprains. For best results, apply heat to the affected area for around 20 minutes three times a day. Never apply heat to fresh injuries, infections, or burns.

• Alternating Cold and Heat

  Contrast therapy is often used for reducing the discomfort of osteoarthritis and exercise-induced injuries. For best results, apply a cold pack to the affected area for one minute before switching to a hot pack for three to four minutes. Repeat this process three times. Always start and end the treatment with an ice pack to reduce inflammation.

Weighing All the Factors

After a side-by-side comparison, we believe that Vive’s elbow pack is your best option when it comes to alleviating discomfort. Specifically designed with the elbows in mind, this flexible ice pack combines machine-washable cover, heavy-duty straps, and four gel packs. Following in a close second are übertherm’s ice wrap with compression and Arctic Flex’s ice pack for injuries, each offering a host of unique features.