arctic ease review (overdue)

One evening, while I was on #fitblog chat (on twitter....), a 'new' company called Arctic Ease was there. Their product uses some Harry Potter type chemical reactions to cool some fabric down and keep your injury at just the right temperature for healing. Or something like that. More or less. Here's what the company has to say about themselves: 

"The optimal temperature for effective cold therapy is above 59° F (15°C).* When skin temperatures go below that, tissue damage such as frost nip and frost bite can occur - it's one of the biggest risks associated with traditional ice therapy. And it's why you have to put ice on, then take it off - over and over again. Arctic Ease eliminates this inconvenience, reduces the risk and discomfort associated with temperature extremes and makes it easier to get relief from pain and swelling so you can get back to doing what you want to do." (bolding added for emphasis by GENE @boutdrz)

*Lee, Pardun, Buntic, Kiehn, Brooks, Buncke, ORTHOPEDICS, “Severe Frostbite of the Knees After Cryotherapy”, January 2007;30(1):63.b Cheng, Thompson, Yakobi, Dermatology, “FROSTBITE”, Updated: May 13, 2009

Somehow or other I entered a contest to win a sample pack. I think, and of course i am right, that it was from Carla over at http://www.mizfitonline.com/. I tell ya, she is a JEM. Or is it GEM? either. both. moving on...

So, as luck would have it, I won the contest, and a box that was chuck-a-block full (technical term) of Arctic Ease products showed up at the house one evening. It was a beautiful thing. Tracey was suffering from stress-induced muscle pain in her lower back, so she agreed (somewhat reluctantly) to test out the product that very night. She's awesome that way. Sometimes. (See my Orbana Review.)

Anyway, i slapped that puppy on her side gently placed one of the pads (sample came with pads AND rolls. sweet!) on her side. After she got done howling from the cold (she gets cold easily) and settled into bed, she said that it actually DID make the pain go away. Every time she rolled, however, it got chilly again. Even though i felt sorry for her, i knew that it was working! YAY!

Next morning, she reported that her pain had gone away a bit, and she was thankful for that. Thank YOU, Arctic Ease!

I tried it, too, on my knee, which i seemed to have tweaked a bit stepping off of a curb or something. Who knows. Anyway, I used one of the roll kits, since I am so hairy that there is NO way the patches will stick to me. Since I am a guy, I didn't read the instructions and just wrapped my knee and then went to bed. When I woke up in the morning....well....the wrap had basically turned into a CAST. It was as hard as a rock. And not a bit cold....I cut it off with a pair of scissors, bagged it, and brought it to work. I called the customer service line, and told my tale of woe.

I SO wish that I had written her name down, but the woman who helped me was WONDERFUL. She even laughed a bit when i told her that the product had turned to stone. She then asked how I wrapped it, and when i told her, she said, "did you read the directions?" HAHAHAHAHAAH. what? Um, no.

I should have wrapped in a figure of 8, at least twice around, to help keep the product moist. In fact, she suggested that i take the remenants that i had cut off and put them in a bit of water to revive the cold. It is STILL chilled. Amazing.

She also said that she would send me a new roll. She actually sent two. (please don't fire her!)

Arctic Ease has hired social media GURU @lisajohnson as their Director of Social Media. A very wise, strong move IMHO. Lisa is personable and brings great enthusiasm for fitness and overall wellness to the table as well.
All in all, I highly recommend Arctic Ease. Great product, great support, great people. Trifecta!