Cold Compression Beats Ice Alone: Proof From ACL Recovery

Why Ice Packs Let Patients Down

You see it all the time. Patients come in swollen, stiff, and hurting. You hand them an ice pack. It numbs the surface for 15 minutes. Then the swelling returns. The pain stays. Compliance drops. Ice packs are not enough.

What the Research Shows

A clinical study tested two groups after ACL reconstruction surgery. One group used cryotherapy with compression. The other used cryotherapy alone. Both followed the protocol three times a day.

The results? The combo group had much lower pain scores after six weeks. They also showed a dramatic drop in narcotic use. Eighty-three percent of the compression group stopped narcotics, compared to just 28% in the ice-only group. (PubMed ID: 22928433)

Why This Matters to Chiropractors

You may not be reconstructing knees, but your patients share the same needs: pain control, swelling reduction, and natural recovery. Ice packs only scratch the surface. Cold plus compression goes deeper. It moves fluid, reduces inflammation, and keeps patients off drugs. That’s what today’s chiropractic patients demand.

Clinical Advantages for Your Practice

• More effective pain relief than ice alone

• Lower reliance on narcotics for recovery

• Improved compliance with controlled sessions

• Hands-free treatments that save staff time

• Better retention as patients see real results

Cold & Compression Unit

The Cold | Compression delivers continuous cooling with active compression. No messy ice bags. No uneven pressure. Just consistent, clinical-grade results your patients will notice.

Stop relying on freezer packs. Give your patients the proven relief of cold compression. Backed by published research. Trusted by clinics focused on outcomes.

👉 Learn how Colebrook Medical Solutions can bring this to your practice!