Cramer Cold Spray Soccer aficionados know all about the magic cold spray. One minute a player is being carried off the field in agony; the next, after a shot of frost, he's waving at the ref to get back into the game. Although it won't reach deep tissue, the spray dulls pain until you get to real ice (from $8; cramersportsmed.com). BEST FOR: Jammed finger, other minor injuries
Roller Ice Athletes and trainers peel the paper off frozen Dixie cups of water to get a focused cold massage. The Roller Ice represents a much-needed technological upgrade. The body of the lightbulb-shaped device is filled with liquid, which when frozen keeps the stainless steel roller icy cold for more than an hour ($35; polarsoftice.com). BEST FOR: Tennis elbow, trigger point massage
Ice Right Unlike many cold compression wraps, Ice Right is designed for use with real ice, not just chemical gel packs. (If you want a gel-like ice pack, however, add a bit of rubbing alcohol to water in a Ziploc, then freeze.) Ice Right's 6" x 36" stretch bandage has a Velcro closure so you can adjust the compression ($10; iceright.com). BEST FOR: Knee, shoulder, elbow, ankle, wrist
Best Methods to Use at Home Don't just collapse into bed after your workout. Give your on-field and chronic aches a thorough ice-down.
Frozen Peas and Saran Wrap A bag of frozen peas is a perfect substitute for the ice pellets that pros use; it conforms to the skin better than cubes, and plastic wrap maintains excellent compression. An NBA trainer admits off the record that he prefers this to his team's superexpensive skin-monitoring cryotherapy machine ($5). BEST FOR: Practically anywhere
Aircast Cryo/Cuff Using gravity or an optional electric pump, the Cryo/Cuff circulates ice water from a small picnic-style cooler into a cuff fitted to your knee, elbow, ankle, etc. You can wear it for hours without risking frostbite. Without the motor, drain and refill the cuff every hour or two (from $125, plus $125 for pump; aircast.com). BEST FOR: Knee, shoulder, foot, wrist, ribs, back
Game Ready Born of NASA space-suit technology, this is the Bentley of the bunch. Pro teams buy roomfuls of the machines, which pump air and circulate ice water through fitted sleeves in a cycle of cold and compression. Pricey, but a worthy investment for hardcore amateurs (systems from about $2,500; gameready.com). BEST FOR: Back, shoulder, groin, knee, ankle

Icing 101
Hate how it feels? Think you don't have time? Consider the benefits of a cooldown.

WHY IT WORKS The instant you suffer an injury such as a sprain, strain, or contusion, your body starts a chain reaction that leads to swelling. Initially, blood flow to the site increases, and vessels become more permeable. This is a normal part of the healing process, but it has an unfortunate, and uncomfortable, side effect: It allows fluid to pool in the surrounding tissue, which can increase pain and exacerbate tissue damage by choking off oxygen to healthy cells. Ice minimizes the inflammatory response and decreases the high oxygen demand of cells in the area (increasing their chances of survival).

HOW TO DO IT During the first 24-48 hours after injury, swelling and fluid pooling are at their peaks. That's the time to be aggressive about cryotherapy. Apply ice along with compression for 20 minutes at least four or five times a day (but, to avoid frostbite, don't ice more than once an hour). Many athletes have found that cryotherapy also helps with muscle recovery after especially hard workouts. While ice might speed the process, however, there's no clinical proof for it yet.

By: Jebediah Reed
Photographs by: Michael Pirrocco (cramer cold spray, roller ice, ice right, peas, cryo/cuff)
(December 2006)