Cold Sprays and Gels – Buyer’s Guide
Most cold sprays have an active ingredient that gives an intense cold sensation and a short-lived reduction in skin temperature. Applying the cold spray provides a distracting stimulus to the brain, which filters out pain signals, so that the spray acts as an effective pain killer. Cold sprays are an effective alternative to ice packs in the treatment of sprains, strains, bruises, lower back pain, lumbago, rheumatic pain, and sciatica.
A cold gel works in a similar way to a cold spray, but is applied to the affected area by gentle massage. The effect of a cold gel on skin temperature lasts longer, so cold gels are more suitable for longer-term treatment of painful conditions such as tennis elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis and arthritis.
An alternative to a cold gel is a cold patch, an adhesive patch that sticks directly to the skin, delivering instant cooling and pain relief to sports’ injuries. Cold patches work by water evaporation, which causes a cooling effect that can last for several hours.
