Customer Reviews

McDavid Cold/Hot Pack Wrap

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Like the previous reviewer I have found this product very useful, not only for treating strictly injuries but as a vital component of daily maintenance. Many times I have returned from a run or other type of workout and felt a bit tender or sore somewhere from my ankle to my knee. I can take the cold packs out of the freezer, pop them in the sheaths, strap them on where I need them most on that given day and greatly aid recovery while preventing further swelling, soreness, or full-blown injury. When the ice packs supplied rupture or leak, which they will in time, I can get replacements at a local pharmacy.

I've had these wraps for many years now, over which time they have been an invaluable tool for nearly daily use. I'd highly recommend this product for anyone interested in aiding recovery from physical exertion, preventing injury, and if an injury does occur for speeding recuperation. Unless the Velcro completely wears out this product will last indefinitely and pay for itself over and over again.

This is the best way to apply ice to an arm or a leg injury. You freeze the blue ice pack (comes free with wrap) and when you need to apply ice to an injury, you slip the ice pack into the inside pocket of this wrap. Then you wrap the whole thing around your injury and fasten it with the velcro connecting straps. You're good to go and hands free at the same time. Nobody (athlete or not) should be without this product. Buy two, they're worth it! Make great gifts! Replacement ice-packs are available. Buy extras, that way you can rotate them and always have one cold and ready to go.

The McDavid Thermal Knee Wrap was one of several cold knee wraps that I have used to address knee swelling. In general, I have been very happy with its overall utility and performance. My only complaint with the product is that the standard cold pack inserts freeze at a temperature that is far too low, leading to discomfort and possibly frostbite.

After having knee surgery to repair a quadriceps tendon rupture, I experienced constant swelling and pain. The surgeon's office provided a Polar Care cold therapy unit that circulates cold water in a pad, which is supplied with ice water from a reservoir connected by a hose. Similar in size to a small Igloo cooler, this bulky device proved impractical even for home use. So, I went on a mission to find the most effective portable cold wrap that I could use both at home and at work. Key characteristics sought included a comfortable fit, good compression, and sufficient heat absorption. The McDavid wrap with the McDavid cold pack insert satisfied almost all of these requirements. As I mentioned, the only major problem was with the cold pack insert not the wrap itself.

I would estimate that the McDavid cold pack inserts melt somewhere between zero and minus ten (-10) degrees Fahrenheit. This is too cold even for a knee covered by clothing. You may say, just let the cold pack thaw out. This then would not provide enough cooling power for the task at hand. The process of converting a solid to a liquid absorbs much more heat than even a moderate change in temperature of the liquid. For example, melting ice absorbs roughly the equivalent energy of an 80 degree temperature increase in water for the same mass of water. So, a cold pack's ability to absorb heat from the knee effectively will best be accomplished by a using a product that converts a solid to a liquid. Manufacturers of cold packs have the ability to add solutes to a the liquid mixture to lower their freezing point temperatures. Presumably, McDavid added more of a solute or used a more potent solute than other cold pack manufacturers. My suggestion is that they find a new solution with a higher melting point around freezing, which will still cool the knee but without the subsequent burning and skin irritation.

The aspects of the wrap that I really like include its durability, elasticity and the excellent adhesion of its Velcro surfaces. It's design allows the wearer to tightly wrap it around the knee, which will further help reduce swelling through compressive action. In total, this wrap has significantly helped me reduce knee pain due to swelling and I would recommend it despite the flawed solution employed in the cold pack inserts.

Pros
Strong Velcro
Good compression
Nice fit

Cons
Cold packs freeze at a very, very low temperature

I ordered these, and used them on both knees for 10 minutes each, afer my running. When I took them off, the skin was white and burnt a little. About 4-5 hrs later, the skin turned red and the burning sensation increased. I went to ER and the doc classifed it as a first degree chemical burn. 2 days later, the burns blistered severly, and the doc said they were second degree burns! I am not sure why this is happening from only 10 mins of application! The packets too didnt seem to be leaking, or maybe the leaks are microscopic!