While athletes are quick to submerge their muscles in a bath filled with freezing cold ice water, most of us are inclined to say "no thank you." However, there is a science behind the seemingly crazy concept of an ice-cold bath.

Cryotherapy, more commonly known as cold therapy, is a healing technique that exposes the body to extremely cold temperatures for several minutes. The therapy helps muscles recover after strenuous activity, injury or surgical procedure. By reducing blood flow to a targeted area for a short period of time, the therapy can lessen inflammation, swelling and nerve activity, which in turn relieves pain around muscles, joints and tendons. Fortunately, there are localized cryotherapy methods, which involve ice packs and coolant sprays, rather than the full-body ice bath.

From everyday muscle recovery to targeted pain relief, cold therapy offers many health benefits.

1. Recover from surgery
Many doctors recommend cryotherapy for post-surgical rehabilitation, as it can reduce pain by controlling swelling and inflammation in the affected area. As such, cold therapy can help patients achieve normal function after soft tissue trauma at a much faster rate.

2. Soothe injured muscles, joints and tissues
Cold therapy can provide effective relief for minor injuries, such as bruises or sprains, by reducing the inflammation and swelling that causes acute pain. The therapy can even speed up healing time: Ankle sprains treated with ice can heal in about a week, while healing times sans cold therapy can be more than 10 days. Beyond one-time injuries, cryotherapy can treat repetitive strain injuries, including carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, trigger finger, cubital tunnel syndrome, shin splints and plantar fasciitis. It can also provide relief for arthritis patients.

3. Recharge muscles after the gym
Many athletes use cryotherapy for muscle or injury recovery after exercise. The cold treatment helps the muscles repair themselves and prepare for the next training session. In a recent review published in the International Journal of Sports Medicine, the researchers found that cryotherapy helped reduce muscle pain in 80 percent of the observed studies as well as improved athletic recovery and performance in 71 percent of the studies. As such, when incorporated into a regular post-workout routine, cryotherapy can reduce recovery times and improve performance going forward.

4. Find additional pain relief
Cold therapy can also provide relief for headache and migraine pains, as one study found that neck wraps with frozen ice packs numbed nerves and reduced participant symptoms. According to Healthline, cold therapy can also provide relief for dermatitis and other skin conditions, nerve irritations and mood disorders.

If you're ready to cool down your pain levels, check out Polar Ice cold therapy products, designed to provide relief for post-surgical rehabilitation and other injuries or sources of discomfort. Combined with compression, these products go above and beyond homemade ice packs. Plus, they're easily adjustable for universal sizing. Available in jaw, shoulder, hip, wrist, elbow, knee, shin, foot, ankle, back and finger wraps, Polar Ice provides localized cold therapy for various points of pain.

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Have you ever heard of cryotherapy? This therapeutic practice has been used for decades, but has recently become more popular thanks to professional athletes. They're using cryotherapy as a method for promoting faster muscle recovery instead of taking an ice bath.

But you don't have to play sports for a living to reap the benefits of using cold to promote healing. Here's everything you need to know about cryotherapy:

What is cryotherapy?
Cryotherapy, which translates to cold therapy in Greek, refers to the method of using freezing temperatures to alleviate irritated nerves, according to Medicine Net. It can be delivered to a single affected area – administered through ice packs, massage, coolant sprays and probes – or to the whole body, using a method which consists of immersing yourself into a closed compartment of cold air for a short period of time. Cryotherapy is generally used to reduce pain, decrease muscle spasms, improve recovery, slow cell aging and enhance overall health.

Who can use cryotherapy?
Cryotherapy isn't only for athletic individuals who want to speed up muscle recovery. This therapeutic practice can also treat repetitive strain injuries. Those include:

• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Tendonitis
• Trigger finger
• Cubital tunnel syndrome
• Shin splints
• Plantar fasciitis
• Arthritis

Medicine Net reported that cryotherapy can also be used for treating localized areas of certain cancers – such as prostate – and may alleviate symptoms caused by abnormal skin cells. More commonly, this method is used to treat isolated nerves that are irritated. Benign nerve growths and pinched nerves, also known as nerve entrapments, may benefit from cryotherapy.

The Polar Ice shoulder/hip wrap delivers the benefits of cryotherapy with compression for soft tissue trauma.

What are the other benefits of cryotherapy?
Beyond providing relief to damaged tissues, cryotherapy can be beneficial in many ways. This cold treatment can also:

• Reduce migraines – According to Healthline, cryotherapy provides a cooling and numbing impact on the nerves in the neck area, which can ultimately reduce the common symptoms of a migraine.
• Treat mood disorders – Cold therapy can be used to release hormones like adrenaline, noradrenaline and other endorphins that can positively impact someone feeling anxious or depressed.
• Support weight loss – While cryotherapy alone will not cause you to lose weight, the therapy can aid the process, according to Medical News Today. Because being cold forces your body to take charge and work hard to stay warm, cryotherapy may kick your body into gear when it comes to shedding a few extra pounds.

As noted, cold therapy can help heal and soothe tissues for post-surgical rehabilitation and other injuries. For those looking for a more convenient option for cryotherapy, try the Polar Ice products from Brownmed. Among all of the wraps offered, including the TMJ, shoulder/hip, wrist/elbow, CPM knee and more, these options provide cold compression for soft tissue trauma. Each wrap is designed with easy-to-adjust hook and loop closure straps and fleece to conform to the body and insulate skin to prevent frostbite.

Enjoy the many benefits of cryotherapy by purchasing your Polar Ice products today.

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"Weighted compression" therapies have been around for years. The best-known example is the weighted blanket, but there are also weighted vests and eye pillows. Several states, including New York and Oklahoma, consider weighted compression a healthy non-drug therapy for people dealing with insomnia, mood disorders, autism, history with trauma and substance abuse.

Let's take a closer look at how weighted compression increases comfort, releases stress hormones and improves sleep:

1. Increased comfort
Hugs are a comforting way to greet and offer condolences to a friend, family member or close acquaintance. According to Medical News Today, hugs enable the body to produce oxytocin, a calming hormone that helps reduce blood pressure levels and slow the heart rate. Essentially, compression products – like the weighted blanket – provide the same gentle yet firm pressure that gives the warmth and security of a hug, allowing for improved relaxation and increased comfort while lounging around or falling asleep.

Specific conditions that may benefit from weighted compression include: 

• ADD/ADHD – Helping children calm down in the middle of the night or after school.
• Asperger's Syndrome and Autism Spectrum Disorder – Providing children assistance to relax after a therapy session.
• Alzheimer's or Parkinson's Disease – Aiding older adults with agitation, anxiousness and insomnia.

A weighted blanket, vest or eye pillow can supplement drug therapy or be used independently of it.

Weighted compression therapies, like the IMAK Eye Pillow, can help release stress hormones and improve sleep.

2. Released stress hormones
Pressure put on the body doesn't only release oxytocin, it also lets out serotonin and melatonin, two chemicals that are linked to stress relief. Serotonin is known to reduce stress while also improving mood, and melatonin is a hormone that regulates the sleep cycle and encourages a good night's rest. Because serotonin and melatonin are linked, the production of one hormone leads to increased levels of the other. Using weighted compression products can enable the body to release both chemicals, thus contributing to a better mood.

3. Improved sleep
Did you know that weighted compression can also help reduce stress? According to the PTSD Journal, the pressure or compression of a product like a weighted blanket provides comfort and relief in the same way swaddling a newborn curbs their anxiety. The weighted compression in an IMAK Eye Pillow may offer the same benefits, aiding relaxation during sleep. This product is made with breathable cotton material and is filled with smooth ergoBeads to create a comforting, gentle massaging effect around the eyes. For additional relief, you can place the IMAK Eye Pillow in the freezer for a cooling sensation without the immediate, uncomfortable shock of an ice pack.

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With a flexible spending account, you have funds set aside to pay for out-of-pocket medical costs. Your employer can make contributions to your account, and the money in your FSA doesn't get taxed, making it incredibly advantageous. If you don't use the funds left in your account by the end of the year, however, you may lose them – unless your employer provides a two-month grace period or allows you to carry over $500 into the following year, according to the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid.

For those who only have until Dec. 31 to use up the funds, you might think you're out of luck unless you have costly eyeglasses to buy or can still schedule a visit to your dentist. Here are three products you might not think of that are FSA-eligible.

Beat the clock and take advantage of your benefits.

1. IMAK Eye Pillow
Are you having trouble falling asleep at night? Are you too stressed to get an adequate amount of rest? The IMAK Compression Eye Pillow can help you get to sleep without counting sheep. This patented eye mask is designed to conform to your face and eyes, providing the ultimate comfort so you can relax and get some shut-eye. It's made with breathable cotton material and has smooth ErgoBeads™ inside to gently massage around the eyes to help you unwind. Additionally, you can keep the mask in the freezer so it provides cooling stress and pain relief when you're ready to use it.

2. IMAK™ HappiNeck™ Orthopedic Neck Support
Whether you're traveling or trying to relax at home and need additional comfort or support, the IMAK™ HappiNeck™ Support Pillow makes the perfect FSA purchase. This product can be used alone or in combination with your favorite pillow, and it contours to your neck and shoulders to provide maximum support. It's compact and lightweight, taking the burden out of carrying around another heavy object, and it's made with fine quality plush terry cloth and hypo-allergenic poly filling to ensure your comfort. Gone are the days of holding your neck up with your fist in an uncomfortable position – the IMAK™ HappiNeck™ makes it easy to relax your neck while you're sleeping, traveling long distances, watching TV and more.

3. Polar Ice® Knee Wrap
If you've experienced soft tissue trauma in the past, Polar Ice® Knee Wrap can provide the pain relief you need. Much like cryotherapy, the cold compression ability of this product helps to control edema or swelling. It's designed with easily washable soft fleece material that insulates the skin from the ice to prevent frostbite and the release of moisture. This product is key for those experiencing injuries, sprains and bruises that require cold compression therapy.

What better way to spend your FSA dollars than on products that provide pain relief? 'Tis the season for gift giving, and there's nothing wrong with purchasing yourself a present or two this holiday season. You can find all of these Brownmed products on FSAstore.com where you can spend all of your remaining funds before the end-of-the-year deadline.

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Aches and injuries are never fun, especially if you're living with chronic pain. Depending on your condition, you may consider medication, physical therapy or even surgery or other invasive measures to find relief, but sometimes a simpler solution is possible. 

When it comes to relieving minor pain, heat and ice can both be useful in certain contexts. But before you try either, you need to recognize which is going to be more effective for your particular situation. 

Heat therapy
When you apply something warm to your body, it brings more blood to the area. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, heat can be helpful when your muscles are tight, because the higher temperature reduces muscle spasms and joint stiffness.

However, when using heat to ease your pain, you need to be careful to avoid burns. If you use a compress made from a wet towel, for instance, make sure that the water you use is warm, not boiling. And if you are using some sort of electric device, like a heating pad, ensure that the hot components don't come in direct contact with your skin. Usually these kinds of devices have a cloth cover or something similar to keep you safe. 

While warmth can help relax muscles and decrease stiffness, Johns Hopkins emphasized that heat therapy shouldn't be used in the first 48 hours of an injury.

To make ice therapy more comfortable, consider trying products from the POLAR ICE line.

Ice therapy
While heat offers a number of benefits for addressing pain, sometimes ice is the better option, especially if you're dealing with inflammation or swelling. 

"Ice seems cold, mean and uncomfortable. Heat seems warm, comfy and cozy," sports and exercise medicine physician Anne Rex said in an article for the Cleveland Clinic. "But ice wins for acute pain, inflammation and swelling. Heat perpetuates the cycle of inflammation and can be harmful."  

However, you need to be careful with these strategies. Ice that is applied too long can cause damage to the skin, nerves or tissue. Wrap any ice in a towel before applying it to the painful area. 

To make ice therapy more comfortable, consider trying products from the Polar Ice® line. Created to help relieve pain due to post-surgical rehabilitation and other injuries, options like the Shoulder/Hip Wrap, Standard Knee Wrap and Back Wrap are easy to wear and insulated to prevent frostbite. The compression and cryotherapy of the products combine to help relieve pain and promote healing in soft tissue trauma.

Bottom line
The simplest way to look at it is that heat therapy is usually helpful for reducing tension and stiffness, while ice therapy can help reduce inflammation and swelling. However, these options should only be used to treat minor pain from a known injury or condition. 

When in doubt, you should always consult with your physician, especially if the pain or swelling does not decrease within 48 hours.  

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Temporomandibular joint and muscle disorders, more commonly known as TMJ, are a group of collective medical conditions that are common among people of all ages in the U.S. According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, some estimates put the number of Americans affected by TMJ at more than 10 million.   

If you're experiencing jaw or face pain that you think could be traced to TMJ, read on to learn more about this condition. 

Understanding TMJ
The hinge that allows you to open and close your jaw is called the temporomandibular joint. There are two joints, one on either side of the face, each of which acts like a sliding hinge and connects the jaw to the skull. TMJ disorders can cause pain in this joint, as well as in the muscles that move the jaw. The group of problems that can accompany TMJ can make normal movement of the jaw difficult, causing even simple tasks like eating or speaking to be painful.   

Mayo Clinic reported that common symptoms of TMJ include:

• Difficulty chewing.
• Pain while chewing.
• Facial soreness.
• Tenderness or pain in the jaw.
• Pain in at least one of the temporomandibular joints.
• Aching around or in the ear. 
• Difficulty opening or closing the mouth, due to locking of the joint. 

TMJ can also have a negative impact on your sleep habits. According to Mark Duncan, D.D.S., some sleeping disorders are directly related to problems with the temporomandibular joint. Some people may even experience night headaches.

"When the bite and the lower jaw are misaligned, muscles are strained which can result in head pain that can mimic a migraine," Duncan wrote in an article for The Huffington post. "This pain can be around the forehead, on the back of the head or radiating down the neck." 

TMJ is a difficult condition to diagnose. The NIDCR reported that trauma to the temporomandibular joint or jaw can contribute to the condition, but it is often hard to identify the exact cause of the pain. While there are some popular theories that orthodontic braces or a bad bite can contribute to the development of TMJ, there is no scientific evidence to back up these exclamations, according to the NIDCR.  

However, Mayo Clinic reported that arthritis or genetics can contribute to the development of TMJ. 

TMJ can disrupt your sleep, leaving you frustrated and tired.

Alleviating the pain of TMJ
TMJ can be a painful and frustrating condition. Generally, however, it is temporary – and occasional – and will go away with little or no treatment. However, that doesn't make it any easier to deal with while it's happening. Although interventions such as surgery are rarely required, there are ways to manage and even reduce the pain that require little work on your part. 

"Because more studies are needed on the safety and effectiveness of most treatments for jaw joint and muscle disorders, experts strongly recommend using the most conservative, reversible treatments possible," wrote the NIDCR. "Conservative treatments do not invade the tissues of the face, jaw, or joint, or involve surgery. Reversible treatments do not cause permanent changes in the structure or position of the jaw or teeth. Even when TMJ disorders have become persistent, most patients still do not need aggressive types of treatment."   

According to Mayo Clinic, TMJ is often treated with medications, such as pain relievers, anti-inflammatories, tricyclic antidepressants and muscle relaxants. The American Dental Association additionally recommended the following:   

• Engaging in relaxation techniques to decrease muscle tension in the jaw.
• Avoiding harder foods.
• Applying heat packs to painful areas.
• Stopping fingernail biting or gum chewing. 

The ADA also reported that it may be necessary to strengthen your jaw with muscle exercises or wear a night guard to prevent grinding or clenching of teeth while sleeping. A physician or dentist can help you to determine if either of these more aggressive steps are necessary to help heal your TMJ.  

If you are living with the pain caused by TMJ, try the Polar Ice® TMJ Wrap, an aid designed to deliver the benefits of cryotherapy through ice and compression. The wrap reduces pain and swelling with ice packs encapsulated in soft, fleece material to treat sprains, bruises or other injuries. The TMJ Wrap can be used during rehabilitation, after surgery or following the completion of physical activity.  

If you believe that you have TMJ, you should schedule an appointment with your physician to confirm the condition and seek advice regarding treatment options.    

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