Ice machines after surgery: How cold compression therapy can help

Recovering from surgery often means managing pain and swelling once you get home. If your surgeon or physiotherapist has recommended cold therapy, you may have been told to use an ice machine.

An ice machine, also known as a cold therapy machine, circulates chilled water through a fitted pad around the area being treated. Some machines also provide compression, giving you cold and compression therapy in one system.

Here’s how they work, why they may be recommended after surgery and what to know before using one.

What is an ice machine?

An ice machine is a device used to provide controlled cold therapy following some surgeries and injuries.

Instead of placing an ice or gel pack over the treatment area, the machine continuously circulates chilled water through a pad or wrap fitted around the body.

Cold therapy may be recommended after surgery to help manage short-term pain and swelling. Systems such as the Breg Polar Care Wave can also provide intermittent compression alongside the cold therapy. Breg lists post-surgical and acute injuries among its intended uses where cold and compression are indicated.

Watch an ice machine in action:

How can an ice machine help after surgery?

The main reason to use an ice machine after surgery is to make prescribed cold therapy easier to manage at home.
It may help you:

Manage pain: cooling the treatment area may provide short-term pain relief.
Manage swelling: cold therapy is commonly used to help control post-surgical swelling.
Combine cold and compression: some machines gently compress the area while cooling it.
Avoid constantly changing ice packs: chilled water circulates through the pad as the machine operates.

An ice machine is just one part of recovery and should be used alongside the instructions provided by your surgical and rehabilitation team.

How does a cold therapy ice machine work?

Most cold therapy machines are relatively simple.

A reservoir is filled with water and ice or another cooling source. A pump then moves the chilled water through tubing into a pad fitted around the area you are treating. The water returns to the reservoir and continues circulating.

The Breg Polar Care Wave combines motorized cold therapy with active compression. It has adjustable cold and compression settings and different pads designed for areas including the knee, shoulder, hip, back and foot or ankle.

What surgeries are cold compression ice machines used after?

Cold therapy machines may be recommended after a range of orthopaedic surgeries, including:

knee replacement
ACL and other knee surgery
shoulder surgery
hip surgery
foot and ankle surgery
some back procedures

Breg offers Polar Care Wave pads designed for the knee, shoulder, hip, back and foot or ankle. Always check with your surgeon or physiotherapist before using cold or compression therapy after surgery.

How long should you use an ice machine after surgery?

There is no single recommended amount of time for everyone.

How often you use an ice machine, how long each session lasts and how many days or weeks you continue will depend on your procedure, your health and the instructions from your healthcare provider.

Follow the directions provided by your surgeon or physiotherapist and the instructions for your specific cold therapy machine rather than assuming that longer or colder treatment is better.

Is cold compression therapy better than ice packs after surgery?

Whether an ice machine or traditional ice pack is right for you will depend on your surgery, your recovery plan and your healthcare provider’s recommendations.

An ice machine isn’t necessarily better for every person, but it can make cold therapy more convenient. A traditional ice or gel pack will melt and needs to be replaced or refrozen. A cold therapy machine circulates chilled water through a fitted pad, making it easier to continue cold therapy for the period recommended by your healthcare provider. Some machines also provide compression.

Can you rent or buy an ice machine for surgery recovery?

Access Abilities offers ice machines to rent or buy, which can be particularly useful when you only expect to need one during a short period of post-surgical recovery.

Not sure whether renting or buying makes more sense? The Access Abilities team can help you consider how long you are likely to need the equipment and what your healthcare provider has recommended.

What else might you need after surgery?

Depending on your surgery and mobility, you may also benefit from equipment such as:

walkers and rollators
canes and crutches
shower chairs and bathroom safety equipment
raised toilet seats
lift and recline chairs
wheelchairs and transport chairs
bedroom safety equipment

Access Abilities offers home healthcare products and short-term rentals to help make recovery at home safer and easier.

Planning for surgery? Access Abilities can help you find the equipment you need for your recovery, whether you need it for a few weeks or for longer-term support.