- What is the best ice gel pack for menstrual cramps?
- Video: How to use hot and cold gel packs?
- Types of hot & cold packs you should know about
- What are the causes of menstrual cramps?
- Which relieves the pain of menstrual cramps better: cold or heat?
- How to use hot & cold gel packs to relieve menstrual cramps?
- The best hot and cold gel packs for pain relief
Hot and cold gel packs are a very convenient and effective solution to relieve the pain of menstrual cramps and cramps. As we know, most women struggle with menstrual cramps throughout their lives.
They usually occur 6 months after the first period and cause discomfort one week before each menstrual cycle. During the first 3 days of the period, the pain intensifies and can interfere with activities of daily living.
What is the best ice gel pack for menstrual cramps?
- Size: One size fits all
- Colours: Black and Green
- Material: Breathable
- No. of products: 1 Piece
- Uses: Rehabilitation and sport
- Always Flexible
- Highest Quality
- Large Size
- Soft Fabric
- Ergonomic design
Highest Quality
Soft Fabric
Always Flexible
- Material: Nylon
- Uses: Lower back
- Type of adjustment: Velcro strap
- Cover: Yes
- No. of units: 2 Gel Packs
- Velcro strap
- 2 Gel Packs
- Hot/cold therapy
- Fully adjustable
- Little flexibility with cold therapy
- Not microwaveable
The ice and heat packs are removable and can be placed in the refrigerator or microwave, depending on the therapeutic benefit you are looking for. The neoprene cover is flexible and does not deform during use, which helps to better adapt to the tender points in the lumbar region. Please note that, in some patients, the support was not ideal for stabilising the joint.
- Material: Nylon
- Uses: Lower back
- Type of adjustment: Velcro strap
- Cover: Yes
- No. of units: 2 Gel Packs
- Fully adjustable Velcro strap
- Durable heat/cold therapy
- Not microwaveable
You can recover faster from a herniated disc by simply placing the gel packs in the refrigerator or microwave to achieve the necessary temperature. Then, you will need to adjust the elastic strap until you feel comfortable with the compression. These steps will help to improve the dilation of the capillary vessels, but it is important to keep in mind that the support strap can cause skin irritation.
- Material: Nylon
- Uses: Various body areas
- Type of fit: None
- Cover: No
- No. of units: 1 Gel Pack
- Large size
- Gel Packs
- Long lasting cold therapy
- Suitable for various body areas
- Medium flexibility with cold therapy
- Not suitable for heat therapy
The pain from sports injuries will be reduced by using this freezer heating pad, just apply it for 15 to 20 minutes several times a day directly to the affected area. But that's not all, you can also use it on the neck and shoulder or other parts of the body to relieve pain. It does not include straps, so you cannot apply compression therapy.
- Material: Nylon
- Uses: Various zones
- Type of adjustment: Velcro strap
- Cover: Yes
- No. of units: 1
- Suitable for various areas of the body
- Manual with examples of use
- Not suitable for microwave use
By simply using the refrigerator and microwave you will achieve the therapeutic temperature necessary for vasodilation. Thanks to this, you will reduce inflammation, relieve pain and eliminate bruising. Don't waste any more time and choose a product that will take care of your health forever, although you should consider that the durability of the materials can be inefficient in some cases.
- Material: Nylon
- Uses: Elbow, Back, Shoulder, Knee
- Type of adjustment: Velcro strap
- Cover: Yes
- No. of units: 1 Gel Pack
- Flexible when frozen
- Fully adjustable
- Heat/cold therapy
- Quality finish
- Medium duration cold therapy
- Delicate wash
You can combine the effects of complementary temperature treatment with compression therapy, thanks to the elastic strap that easily adjusts to the user's anatomy. All these options will help you to increase your sporting performance without missing out on everyday activities. As you place them in the refrigerator and microwave, the temperature retention capacity is likely to decrease over time.
- Material: Nylon
- Uses: Arm, Elbow, Leg and Knee
- Type of adjustment: Velcro strap
- Cover: Yes
- No. of units: 1 Gel Pack
- Adjustable Velcro strap
- Hot/cold therapy
- Low flexibility with cold therapy
The gel pack can be chilled in the freezer for 2 hours or heated in the microwave for one minute and applied to the affected area for therapeutic results in the short term. Compression will also help with blood stimulation, but it is important to consider that pain relief may be as you reuse the heating pad.
- Material: Nylon
- Uses: Various body areas
- Type of fit: None
- Cover: No
- No. of units: 1 Gel Pack
- Flexible when frozen
- Large size
- Not suitable for heat therapy
After a hard workout or a long time sitting in the office, you can't stop using this sports ice pack to take care of your health. Its use is simple, just place the heating pad in the microwave or refrigerator for the recommended time to achieve the ideal temperature that will help improve blood circulation. It is important to consider that, as it does not have a cover or strap, comfort is often lacking for some patients.
- Material: Nylon
- Uses: Various body areas
- Type of fit: None
- Cover: No
- No. of units: 1 Gel Pack
- Suitable for various body areas
- Long therapy duration
- Hot/cold therapy
- High-quality workmanship
- Medium flexibility with cold therapy
- Not suitable for microwave
You can apply this treatment on various parts of the body and without relying on anyone else. You will only need to get the therapeutic temperature by placing it in the refrigerator or microwave and then place it on the sensitive lumbar areas. It is recommended for treating symptoms of sciatica, pulled muscles and inflamed discs. The material may overheat as you use it and tends to lose its temperature retention property.
Video: How to use hot and cold gel packs?
Types of hot & cold packs you should know about
What are the causes of menstrual cramps?
Dysmenorrhoea or menstrual cramps is a disorder of the female reproductive system characterised by menstrual pain. Although it is a common condition, it affects only 30% of women of childbearing age. It is important to know that this condition is more common in younger women and usually disappears with time. In some women, the condition has even improved after the birth of their first children and has not recurred at all.
However, to recognise this disorder, you need to know some important facts. The uterus is covered by a layer of tissue called the endometrium, which normally grows month by month to accommodate the fertilised egg. If fertilisation does not occur, the lining of the uterus breaks off and is expelled, causing menstrual bleeding.
In order for the uterus to empty itself of this tissue, it must contract. At this moment, the body begins to release chemicals such as prostaglandins, which trigger contractions similar to childbirth. The intensity of the contractions varies from woman to woman, some experience mild contractions, others very strong.
Two types of dysmenorrhoea have been distinguished, primary and secondary, and their possible causes have been identified:
Primary dysmenorrhoea
Primary dysmenorrhoea is the most common form of the condition. It begins in adolescence and improves with time and the birth of a child. In this case, there is no pre-existing disease that could be the cause of the pain during menstruation.
Excessive production of prostaglandins, chemicals that cause pain, is associated with this condition. As mentioned earlier, prostaglandins cause contractions that lead to cramps. In primary dysmenorrhoea, the pain can start a few days before the period begins. Usually it only lasts a few days, but there are also reports that the pain lasts longer.
It is often associated with certain risk factors, e.g.
- Menarche or first menstrual period before the age of 11 or very long and heavy menstrual periods.
- Smoking and drinking habits during menstruation.
- Women who are overweight or very underweight.
All of these risk factors are associated with chronic inflammatory processes that lead to an increased release of prostaglandins.
Secondary dysmenorrhoea
In secondary dysmenorrhoea, menstrual pain is often associated with other diseases of the female reproductive system. It usually occurs years after the first period. It is a pain that may occur a few days before menstruation and continues after menstruation ends, and may get worse over the years.
The most common causes of secondary dysmenorrhoea are:
- Uterine fibroids or fibroids: These are tumours that develop in the uterus and are benign, i.e. do not cause cancer. They are very common and can occur on the walls of the uterus, on the surface that lines the inside or outside of the uterus. They are caused by hormones or a genetic predisposition.
- Ovarian cysts: These are small fluid-filled sacs that can appear in the ovary or on its surface. They can appear during the menstrual cycle and disappear spontaneously without causing any discomfort. However, some can cause serious symptoms, especially if they rupture.
- Pregnancies and miscarriages: Both are often confused with painful menstruation. An ectopic pregnancy occurs when fertilisation has taken place outside the uterine cavity. And a miscarriage is the loss of the product of conception, which is accompanied by pain and heavy vaginal bleeding.
- Infections: Infections of the uterus are another cause of severe dysmenorrhoea. An infectious process leads to inflammation and thus pain, especially during the menstrual cycle.
Which relieves the pain of menstrual cramps better: cold or heat?
Medications such as painkillers can be effective for menstrual cramps. However, if you are one of those who prefer other alternatives rather than medicines, you should find out about heat and cold therapies.
Advantages of cold therapy
Cold has been used since ancient times to inhibit inflammation and relieve pain from musculoskeletal conditions. In this method, the affected areas are treated with low temperatures for a period of 10 to 20 minutes.
Its benefits are felt immediately after application, including the following:
- Pain relief: Within a few minutes of applying the cold, you may notice that the pain eases. This is because the cold causes a decrease in peripheral nerve activity. This is related to the reduction in blood flow caused by the cold in the tissue where it is placed.
- Reduction of inflammation: The spontaneous effect of cold on blood flow is to reduce it locally. This prevents pro-inflammatory elements in the body from reaching the site of injury. It also reduces tissue metabolism and thus prevents inflammation.
- Prevents tissue damage: When cold works, it slows down the physiological processes of tissue breakdown. When applied locally, it prevents further damage and provides faster improvement of the injury and adjacent soft tissue.
Menstrual cramps cause contraction of the smooth muscles of the uterus, which causes pain. Although cold is very effective for musculoskeletal disorders, heat is much more effective for dysmenorrhoea.
Advantages of heat therapy
Heat, like cold, has an excellent effect on pain of all kinds. Its main property is that it relaxes muscles, ligaments and tendons and helps to improve tissue circulation. As heat is a vasodilator par excellence, its use is not recommended in acute inflammatory processes.
Some of its advantages are as follows:
- Improves muscle spasms: When heat is applied to the pelvic area, it locally increases blood flow. This leads to increased blood flow, which delivers more oxygen and nutrients to the tissues. In this way, the pain is significantly improved.
- Relaxes the tissues and gives them back their elasticity: The warm temperature leads to a better relaxation of the tissues, especially the muscles. This is an excellent option for dysmenorrhoea, as the relaxation of the uterus considerably relieves the pain.
- It produces a feeling of well-being and comfort: the increased blood flow to the affected area improves the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the tissues. This allows for a faster and more satisfying recovery from menstrual cramps or discomfort.
How to use hot & cold gel packs to relieve menstrual cramps?
As we have already explained, it is best to use heat to relieve menstrual cramps and pain. Our gel packs are not designed to be used with heat, but they can be warmed if needed. There are two ways to do this: in the microwave or in a water bath. We explain the correct procedure in detail here.
Heating in the microwave is quite simple, you will find that it is very easy:
- First place the gel pack in the microwave at 800 W for 30 seconds. Sometimes the power of the microwave is not enough, in which case it is best to adjust the seconds until the correct temperature is reached.
- After the seconds have elapsed, remove the appliance to check the temperature by touching it. It is necessary to massage the gel pack so that the heat is evenly distributed in the pack.
- If it is not heated sufficiently, put it back in the microwave and heat it for another 10 seconds.
- If it has overheated, remove it from the microwave immediately and let it rest. When it has cooled completely, the heating process should be repeated.
- When the temperature feels right, place the bag on its stomach. It is placed for 10 to 15 minutes and repeated every hour for the duration of the period. Our packs do not require wipes or protective covers, they can be used directly.
- The heating process of the gel pack should always be monitored. It may happen that the pack expands, which means that the temperature of the pack has exceeded the recommended temperature. In this case, remove the gel pack and wait until the temperature has dropped and cooled down before repeating the process.
- If the gel pack breaks, remove it from the microwave, allow it to cool completely and discard it.
- Do not heat a frozen gel pack, always wait until it is at room temperature.
- Never attempt to heat a gel pack in the oven.
