When you’re injured, the last thing you want to worry about is figuring out how to pay for first aid. Fortunately, it’s possible to find quality medical supplies without breaking the bank with this product review of knee supports a must-have product when you or someone you know gets injured while playing sports or working out. You can find these affordable knee supports at Thermoskin.
What to know before aiding your injure
To provide first aid care for a swollen knee, wash your hands and place an ice pack over your knee as told in first aider training in Nottingham. To prevent further injury, apply for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicine (e.g., ibuprofen or naproxen) suggested by first aid at work training in Manchester to alleviate pain and inflammation in your knee, and elevate your leg above heart level using pillows. Finally, be sure not to move your knee too much until you seek medical attention from a physician.
Place the wrap in hot water (not boiling)
To heat it up, place it in a sink or bowl of hot water until it’s hot enough to use. Alternatively, you can also place it in a microwave and heat it briefly, as long as you’re sure not to overheat it (you don’t want any melting). The pack will stay warm for at least 30 minutes. But before you head out with your newly warmed-up Thermoskin, make sure that its fit is still good — once an injury has set in, blood flow changes can lead to swelling and leave you with a wrap that doesn’t fit well anymore.
Remove wrap from water and allow it to cool slightly
If you’re using a solid knee sleeve, don’t use water that is hotter than your injury—the wrap will be hot to the touch and there is a risk of burning yourself. Place it in some cool or lukewarm water until it’s comfortably warm.
If you have an ice pack with you, place it in a ziplock bag and then wrap it in another towel before placing it on your knee. This extra layer helps prevent frostbite while giving you more control over its temperature. Also, never leave an ice pack on longer than 20 minutes at a time because there is a risk of damaging skin tissue (frostbite). Be very careful when applying cold therapy that isn’t from an ice pack—don’t press too hard!
Apply wrap over the injured area
To apply a Thermoskin wrap over an injured area, you’ll want to select a large enough piece of the wrap so that it covers all of your problem areas and can be wrapped around once or twice. If you have severe bruising or swelling, you’ll want a larger wrap size so that it can cover those areas.
The gel pad should cover up to two inches surrounding your knee cap. Be sure that the edges of your wrap are not too loose or tight, since either could lead to skin irritation. If your wrap is too big, consider taping it in place with hypoallergenic medical tape. This will prevent it from sliding off mid-recovery period and also ensure that no part of your injured skin is exposed while you recover.
If you have multiple sprains, follow the same steps.
Wrap your knee with a compression bandage. This helps lessen pain and increases blood flow. If you have bruises, apply an ice pack wrapped in a towel to your knee, changing it every 15 minutes or so as it melts and refreezes.
Take acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil) when appropriate. Never take both of these together unless directed by a doctor—it’s dangerous! Also, make sure you know what over-the-counter pain medications will interact poorly with other medications you might be taking.
Leave on for no more than 30 minutes per day.
After receiving a compression therapy wrap or sleeve, many people will leave it on their injured body part longer than necessary. This is actually counterproductive to getting better because by leaving it on too long, you could be causing additional problems for yourself.
For example, if you’re using one of these products to treat shin splints or reduce swelling in your knee, you could end up with worse shin splints and inflammation in your knee if you leave it on too long. It’s a good idea to talk with your doctor about how long is appropriate to keep these products on. For most injuries though, 30 minutes per day should be more than enough time.
The longer you leave the wrap on, the better results you will get.
It’s important to note that you should start wrapping your knee at least one hour before you go to bed, as most of its effectiveness comes from constant and prolonged pressure. If you don’t have time before heading off to sleep, though, it can still be effective if you wrap it a couple of hours in advance.
However, since blood circulation slows down during sleep—and because our joints are more vulnerable when we are lying down—it’s best not to leave a knee wrap overnight unless it is absolutely necessary. To help your body recover faster when using heat therapy after an injury, you should move around often while wearing your wrap.
Follow up with your doctor if you are still experiencing pain after using the knee sleeve.
Whether you are trying it as a temporary fix or looking for something more long-term, wraps can be extremely helpful. Speak with your doctor before using them, though. If you have signs of a tendon injury, bleeding under your kneecap, joint instability or osteoarthritis, speak with your doctor first.
Your doctor will help you figure out what is causing your pain and how best to handle it. Many people use these wraps after surgery because they reduce swelling and support their knees without having to wear an uncomfortable brace.
Conclusion
The concept has been well-received and many people have used it with positive results when it comes to healing knee injuries. With that said, you should always consult your doctor before beginning treatment and let them know what you are doing. They may have other recommendations or advice for you depending on what kind of injury you’re dealing with. If your condition doesn’t improve after using Thermoskin, there is no harm in taking a trip back to your doctor and asking about something else that could help your condition get better without surgery.
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