The IceRider™ Knee Therapy Wrap by IceHorse®, who has provided reliable equine cold therapy products to reduce heat and inflammation for more than 15 years. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.
If I were a horse, I would not likely have a career in a sport like eventing. The horse version of me would certainly not pass a jog, and probably not even a pre-purchase exam. The reason is not because I lack heart, but because I have bad leg conformation. Though not exactly knock-kneed, both patellas are rotated inward and, for all intents and purposes, I am severely “over at the knee.”
Professional medical advice has done little to help relieve the pain that comes with such construction, save pamphlets for at-home physical therapy exercises and little diagnosis beyond “that’s what you get for being a chick with hips.” But knee pain, much like back pain, can be debilitating and desperately infuriating.
I’ve experimented with various anti-inflammatories, topical treatment and supportive bandages over the years to relieve the discomfort, so I was grateful for the opportunity to try the IceRider™ Knee Therapy Wrap by IceHorse®, who has provided reliable equine cold therapy products to reduce heat and inflammation after work or injury for more than 15 years.
After a thorough test run of the Knee Therapy Wrap, I can confidently say I will never go back to using an awkward, wet bag of plain old ice to relieve pain and inflammation not only in my knees, but on any ailing joint!
Never use awkward, messy bags of ice again!
Convenient, Clean and Effective
I might whine about it, but I never let knee pain slow me down. Yet after returning from a less-than-leisurely 10-mile bike ride in the wilderness earlier this month, my right knee was more or less screaming at me in protest. Luckily, I had already tucked the two reusable FirstIce® inserts that come with the Knee Therapy Wrap in the freezer, so the brace was ready to strap on after slotting the packets in place and securing the velcro seam.
The granules inside the packets are flexible even when frozen, and after working the packet slightly to loosen the granules, it conforms to your leg comfortably. But you don’t have to confine yourself to the couch for this method of cold therapy; the brace moves with you as you go about your chores in the house or barn because the wrap with both inserts secured inside stays in place thanks to the three stretchy compression straps made with breathable Quadrispan™ anti migration fabric.
The inserts stay cold for up to 4 hours, but I found the packets are never so cold that they are painful or irritating, like you might experience using a bag of ice cubes. When you’re done, simply place the packs back in the freezer for the next use. The non-toxic, reusable packs are effective for up to 50 sessions, and replacements are easily ordered online.
Alternating between a hot and cold compress is often recommended for treating athletic injuries, and I found it a pleasant surprise that the FirstIce® inserts are not only a pain relieving cold remedy, but a soothing hot pack too. If you’re a good planner, you can keep one insert in the freezer and heat up another one according to the easy instructions provided on the insert label and achieve soothing contrast therapy – a far more professional option than the sad rice-filled hot sock and messy bag of ice I usually use!
The granules inside the packets are flexible even when frozen, and after working the packet slightly to loosen the granules, it conforms to your leg comfortably.
A Versatile Product
When using IceHorse® wraps, there are special wraps and boots for use on a hock, stifle or tendon, but what I really love about the FirstIce® inserts that come with the IceRider™ Knee Therapy Wrap is their versatility. They provide quick and effective relief for almost any ailing joint or sore muscle… let me tell you how I figured that out!
Not long after discovering the effectiveness of the IceRider™ Knee Therapy Wrap when used for its intended purpose, the universe gave me another opportunity (make that two) to test the product. One unscheduled dismount left me with a sore but thankfully not broken wrist – no problem, I just strapped a FirstIce® insert on my arm and went about my business.
Another high velocity meeting with the ground two days later left me with not only a bruised ego, but bruised sit bones. Considering sitting, either on a horse or in front of a computer, is the sum of most of my days, this was a problem. I’ll give you three guesses as to what happened next…
It was a week of physical drama I would not choose to repeat, but with each ache and pain I was grateful to find the FirstIce® inserts in the freezer to use as needed, and now I finally have an effective knee brace that can deliver support and reduce inflammation while allowing me to maintain mobility at home or the barn.
Click here to order your own IceRider™ Knee Therapy Wrap and check out other horse and human products by IceHorse®.
