We may not think much of it, but our shoulders are one of the most useful, flexible and complex parts of our bodies. From getting out of bed, to brushing our teeth, combing our hair, cooking, eating, driving — our shoulders are used for pretty much every movement we do and are taken for granted. Our shoulders are used even when we turn in our sleep.
Three bones, a dozen different muscles and a number of ligaments and tendons all meet in the shoulder. The way in which they are all connected makes the shoulders the most flexible joint in the human body. No other joint in the body — not the hip, ankle, knees or wrists — can move in various directions as the shoulders. Our shoulders’ flexibility, however, comes with a price: it is quite prone to injury and pain.
The importance of taking care of your shoulders
Because of the shoulders’ usefulness in everyday tasks, it is crucial for us to care of them. The best way is to take care of them while they are in a healthy or normal state, and to not wait for pain or injury to occur.
Maintaining flexibility and sustaining strength in our shoulders are very important for good shoulder health.
Here are some ways to care for your shoulders:
- Practice strengthening and flexibility exercises around the shoulders and surrounding areas.
- When carrying your purse or backpack, avoid putting all of the weight on just one shoulder.
- Practice good posture when sitting.
- When lifting objects, carry them close to your body. Try not to lift heavy objects away from your body or overhead.
- Try to sleep on both sides equally throughout the night.
- Good posture should be practiced regularly in general. This will keep the shoulder blades and joints in their correct positions.
Seeing a physician for shoulder pain
Please be aware that if you are experiencing the following in your shoulder pain, it is best to consult a physician or health professional before attempting a home remedy:
- Your shoulder pain is the result of trauma or injury.
- You can no longer use your joints due to intense pain
- There is sudden swelling in the area, or a joint appears deformed.
- There is no sign of improvement after two or three weeks.
Common causes of minor shoulder pain
As we get older, shoulder pain and problems become more and more common, but shoulder pain can occur at any age from overuse, misuse or general health conditions. The following are some of the most common reasons for minor shoulder pain:
Osteoarthritis – Affecting millions of people in the world, osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. Although osteoarthritis commonly hits areas like the knees and the hips, it also occasionally occurs in the shoulders. This happens when the shoulder’s articular cartilage wears down due to overuse or misuse. When this takes place, the shoulder’s joint capsule becomes thickened, leading to loss of mobility and pain.
Frozen shoulder – Medically known as “adhesive capsulitis”, frozen shoulder is one of the “usual suspects” of shoulder pain, especially amongst those aged 40 to 60. This is often the result of inflammation, scarring, thickening and shrinkage of the capsule that surrounds the shoulder joint. Shoulder injuries such as tendinitis, bursitis and rotator cuff syndrome can often lead to frozen shoulders.
Shoulder Strain – Shoulder strain occurs when there is stretching and tearing of a muscle or tendon in the shoulder. A strain can also happen when a shoulder remains in the same position for a long period of time, such as when carrying a poor posture while sitting or working, or when carrying heavy load over one shoulder.
Shoulder pain therapy with ice
For most common and minor shoulder pains, ice therapy is the pain relief and treatment that is recommended. Ice therapy as pain management works because cold temperature reduces blood flow to the affected area, which will significantly reduce inflammation that is the root cause of the pain.
The importance of a good shoulder ice pack
As we’ve ascertained the usefulness and importance of shoulders in our day-to-day lives and activities, it would behoove you to invest in a quality shoulder ice pack.
Using bags of frozen peas or ice cubes works fine in one-off situations, but not over the long run, especially when you are prone to shoulder aches and pains, or you live in a household of athletes or active people.
Due to shoulder pains being common, there are plenty of pain relief accessories available in the market, but only a few good quality, long-lasting shoulder ice packs are out there.
Even though your shoulders may be in pain, they are still required for almost every movement you do throughout the day. This is why it’s essential to use shoulder ice packs that won’t fall off.
Additionally, high-quality shoulder ice packs should be able to provide cold therapy that will facilitate healing and pain relief in the quickest time possible, be comfortable and snug, provide long-lasting cold temperature, be durable, not fall off the shoulders and, most of all, offer value for money.
The best shoulder ice packs that won’t fall off your shoulder
There are hundreds of different shoulder ice packs available in the market, but not all of them will provide quality pain relief and care. So, we’ve gone through the research to help you know what to look for when buying shoulder ice packs that won’t fall off.
Look for an ice pack with quality straps
Many shoulder ice packs come with straps, but not all are comfortable or are made of quality material. The danger in using shoulder ice packs with substandard straps can lead to further injury and pain. Look for straps that are made from high-grade Velcro without any exposed edges, as this will make sure that you’re comfortable wearing a snug-fitting shoulder ice pack.
Straps that have grip connections will also help keep the shoulder pack in place.
It provides a universally perfect fit
A good slip-free shoulder ice pack should also be able to perfectly mould around most body and shoulder types and sizes for both male and female frames. A flexible shoulder ice pack is the key to this because the flexibility will allow the pack to contour around the back, shoulders and neck. This Premium Shoulder Ice Pack contains the thickest viscosity gel so that it remains pliable straight out of the freezer.
A universal fit will also mean that the shoulder ice pack can be used by several members of your household, so this absolutely brings more value for you.
It should stay freezing cold for longer than 20 minutes
Medical professionals suggest for one to ice their shoulder, or any injured part of the body, for 15-20 minutes. This time is crucial because less than that and your shoulders may not get the benefits of cold therapy at all. If you ice for longer than 20 minutes, you risk exposing your skin and joints to too much cold and frostburn may occur.
Magic Gel’s Premium Shoulder Ice Pack and Shoulder Pain Relief Cold Wrap provide lasting, continuous cold temperatures for 20-22 minutes, which means you do not have to worry about losing the benefits of ice therapy in the midst of your treatment.
It must be durable
If you are going to invest in a good shoulder ice pack that does not fall off, you may as well look for one that lasts a long time. For instance, this Premium Shoulder Ice Pack is reusable for up to five years because it is created with material that is tear- and split-resistant. Its seams are also sealed to prevent leakage.
Shoulder pain can be prevented, but there are times that it’s inevitable, and it will often afflict you when you least expect it. This is why it’s important to have good quality, slip-free shoulder ice packs ready so you can manage pain relief at home comfortably and effectively.
If you’re currently dealing with shoulder pain or are in need of quality shoulder ice packs that will give you the best hands-free experience and quick recovery, please get in touch! We look forward to hearing from you.