Cold therapy is an aid to:
• Reducing pain.
• Preventing and limiting swelling.
• Enhancing circulatory flow.

Cold therapy is beneficial for:
• Recent soft tissue trauma eg - bruising and sprains - Apply Cool Care Gaiter as soon as possible after the injury for 15 - 20 minutes every 2 hours for the first 24 - 48 hours,
• Filled Joints - Depending on severity apply Cool Care Gaiter for 15 - 20 minutes every 2 hours for the first 24 - 48 hours if the condition persists apply for 15 - 20 minutes daily for 7 - 10 days.
• Filled legs or sore shins - Use Cool Care Gaiter daily for 15 - 20 minutes unless advised to treat more frequebtly by your veterinary surgeon.

Warning - Vets recommend that cold therapy shouldn't be applied for more than 20 minutes as there is risk that a cold burn will occur and destroy tissue.

Cold therapy works in 2 stages:
• Stage 1 - Application of cold begins instantly by reducing cell activity and the immediate oxygen requirement, giving small vessels time to seal off their damaged portions, rapidly reducing further blood loss which forms and increases bruising.
• Stage 2 - As the temperature at the injury site drops, arterial blood vessels start to dilate sending a rush of beneficial warm blood to the area encouraging the arrival of oxygen and other cell requirements. Venous blood carries away the injury debris or waste which reduces local pressure and therefore pain. the reduction of pain reduces muscle spasm adjacent to the trauma. Furthermore the sensitivity of pain recpetors is reduced by cold.