What is Contrast Therapy?
At its core, contrast therapy is all about alternating between cold and warm sensations to help manage pain. It is inspired by contrast bath therapy, a common form of physical therapy where sore muscles are first immersed in a cold bath, then in hot water to help with recovery. With Icy Hot®, you get the same cooling-and-heating sensation without visiting a physical therapist or installing hot and cold baths at home.
Whether you’re dealing with a sports injury, muscle soreness following intense exercise, or just general aches that come with daily life, contrast therapy can be a powerful tool for soft tissue pain management. And with Icy Hot®, you get the benefits of Icy Hot's contrast therapy in an easy-to-use cream, patch, spray, and more that’s there for you whenever and wherever pain hits.
How Muscle & Joint Pain Works
Before diving into the nitty-gritty of contrast therapy, let’s start with a quick look at how pain works. As unpleasant as it may be, pain is one of your body’s essential natural defense mechanisms. Your skin is packed with specialized receptors that detect everything happening around you—from temperature to pressure, and of course, pain.
When you get injured, these pain receptors transmit signals to your brain, letting you know something’s wrong. For instance, if you strain a muscle during a workout, the receptors fire off messages to your brain, creating that familiar throbbing or sharp pain. It’s like your body’s way of saying, “Hey, slow down and pay attention!"
And sure, while pain plays a big role in your body’s defenses, you want to get back to doing what you love. That’s where contrast therapy comes in.
How Contrast Therapy Delivers the Relief You Need
With its one-two punch of cooling and warming sensations, Icy Hot®’s contrast therapy helps in two ways: by relieving pain and increasing blood flow where applied.
Ice Works Fast
The first thing you’ll notice after applying Icy Hot® is the cooling sensation of menthol. This initial icy sensation goes straight to the source of pain, dulling the area on contact for fast relief.
Heat Makes it Last
Icy Hot®'s menthol alters blood flow to the targeted area, delivering a warming sensation to relax pain away. This makes it easier for you to get back in the game and stay there.
Why Icy Hot® Stands Out From Other OTC Pain Relievers
With so many pain relief products out there, what sets Icy Hot® apart? It's all in the power of contrast therapy—ice works fast, heat makes it lastTM.
Most over-the-counter (OTC) pain relief options fall into one of two categories: cooling-only or warming-only. While each has its own benefits, they lack the power of icy and hot sensations that you get from Icy Hot®’s contrast therapy.
So, whether you’re bouncing back from an intense workout or tackling sudden aches from a busy day, contrast therapy offers a quick, targeted approach that beats pain before it beats you.
Try Icy Hot®'s Full Line of Relief Solutions
Ready to experience the power of contrast therapy? Icy Hot® offers a range of products that give you fast, targeted relief, so pain never slows you down.
CLASSIC RELIEF, RIGHT WHEN YOU NEED IT
Icy Hot® No Mess
Get fast pain relief without the mess. Icy Hot® No Mess Roll-On features a rollerball that targets sore muscles and joints exactly where you need it, providing quick-drying, effective relief.
FOR MAX-STRENGTH RELIEF
Icy Hot® PRO Pain Relief Massaging Balm
Count on maximum-strength pain relieving ingredients with the Icy Hot® PRO line. Formulated with two extra-strength pain relievers to target more pain points, the Icy Hot® PRO Massaging Balm also soothes and nourishes with cocoa butter and avocado oil, keeping your skin soft as it tackles tough aches.
ENJOY ON-THE-GO RELIEF
Icy Hot® PRO Pain Relief Patch
Need relief while you’re on the move? The Icy Hot® PRO Pain Relief Patch offers targeted, long-lasting pain relief with advanced hydrogel technology. Formulated with two extra-strength pain relievers, this patch provides comfort that you can wear for up to eight hours so you can stay active through it all.
TACKLE HARD-TO-REACH PAIN
Icy Hot® PRO Dry Spray
With two maximum-strength pain relievers, Icy Hot® PRO Dry Spray works fast on more pain points.* It sprays at any angle so you can target hard-to-reach areas, and it dries quickly so you don’t have to worry about any dripping or a mess.
*Compared to Icy Hot® products containing only menthol.
