Polar Active Ice 3.0 Cold Therapy Ice Machine System with Programmable Timer, Large Foot Therapy Compression Pad, Lightweight 9 Quart Cooler, Quiet Pump, Strong Cryotherapy Pain Relief Treatment

Updated 4/20/2020: I wanted to add to my original review. I've used a similar unit in the past. However, the deciding factor in purchasing this particular unit was the auto on/off cycle timer, which no other company offer's. You can set it for how long you want it run and how long you want it to shut off before it runs again.Recently I have been dealing with a lot of knee pain and stiffness while trying to sleep, it's been 3-1/2 months since my surgery. To the point I am back having to use crutch's when I first get out of bed, until I do an ice therapy session. So I decided to experiment and use the machine throughout the whole night while in bed.First couple of nights I tried different cycle times, 20 mins on/20 off. Then 30/20. Finally settled on 40 mins on/10 mins off. Now when I get up in the mornings I feel so much better. I'm not in nearly as much pain nor do I have as much stiffness! Also, I no long need the crutch's when I first wake up. Having the on/off cycle timer is such an added benefit!Due to being a multi sport athlete and years of injury and competition I just had my fourth knee surgery, I borrowed a similar unit on my last surgery that wasn't available to me this time. I thought I would just use ice this time. After two days of intense pain and swelling almost the same, I ordered this unit. I love it!The bladders have the wrap attached to it which makes it very convenient and easy to put on & off. This unit also has auto on/off timer that I love. You can set it to run from 10 minutes to 16-1/2 hours. You can also set it for how long you want it off before it kicks back on again. Which is nice because you can have it on a lot longer than ice and you can sleep with it on. Within 24 hours my swelling was reduced by more than half of what it was and so was the pain. Ice, if left on to long can be counter productive and can be messy.I did have a small issue when I first received it, not a real big deal. However, I called the manufacture, Polar Products and they were really nice and took care of it immediately. While talking to them, found out they were actually local to me (Stow, Ohio) and they invited me out. They are a small family owned company with great people and a great product and worth the extra money I paid. Don't be afraid to spend the extra money for this product, Don't be penny wise and dollar foolish.While I was at their facility I was asked if I would be interested in testing reusable Ice packs they are developing to reduce having to keep continuing emptying water and adding ice. I feel they are working very well, maintaining good temperature for 6-8 hours. Take them out, wipe them off and put them back in freezer and grab another set.This unit is something I would suggest having and wearing the moment you get home from surgery. This will help cut days even weeks off of dealing with pain and swelling. Also; I wear mine 30 minutes on/10 minutes off/30 minutes on, then i get up and walk as much as I can with or without crutches, then repeat. After four knee surgery's I have learned how important it is to get it moving as soon and as much as possible. However, getting the swelling down as soon as possible is a huge factor and this unit helps do that.As I am now in therapy, they will typically ice you at the end. I elect not to have them do this and I come home and put my knee bladder on. My opinion it much more effective and more comfortable. I don't understand why therapy does not use them. I know this was long but I hope my experience will help someone or many with a faster recovery, being on crutches and laid up is no fun!

The Polar Ice Machine is a game changer when dealing with your knee replacement surgery....it is the BEST PRODUCT for pain and swelling relief. The machine is quiet and I love the timer! The control options on the timer are easy to use and works great. The machine tucks nicely next to your recliner or bed and the size of the hoses is a good length for ease of use. You will want to purchase the Full Circumference Knee Pad to completely cover the front and back of your knee. This is a wonderful pad and provides relief for your knee pain and swelling. Great family owned company with a customer service department that answers their phone and you speak with a live representative who assists you with any question or need you may have.

First off, this company has awesome customer service! I ordered the targeted coverage pad (for small to medium shoulder) because I am a woman with narrow shoulders and another reviewer of similar size had said that the regular broad coverage pad was too big. A few days prior to surgery I thought that I’d get it set up while I had 2 functional arms and give it a test run so that I could get home post-op and start using it right away. The cooling pad was too small. There was no way I could make it fit securely on my shoulder. Their product info said that if you ordered the wrong size they would exchange it, and a few hours after I sent them an email I got a reply that they were sending the larger size along with a prepaid mailing label and packaging to return the smaller pad. 2 days later it arrived. As for the system itself? It is easy to set up, I was able to secure the pad in just the right place on my shoulder, and I used the handy timer to set for 20 min on, 20 min continuous icing. The water stayed cold for a long time but when I noticed that it was warming up a bit, my husband could easily exchange the bottles of frozen water that we used as “ice”. Because of the Velcro strapping on the shoulder pad, when I needed to get and move around I could leave the pad securely on my shoulder and just disconnect the water tubes. No leaking whatsoever. One thing that improved the fit for me was using the smaller piece of Velcro strap to hold the pad a under my arm instead of the larger stretchy strap as indicated on the instructions. The largest stretchy strap goes around your body to hold it in place. I used the smaller stretchy strap on top of the shoulder to snug the pads together so that they totally covered around the shoulder joint area and upper arm. Awesome product, good price (cheaper than renting cold therapy device from a medical supply store), great customer service, and made in the heartland of the USA!!

This machine works beautifully for me as I continue to recover from knee replacement surgery. The directions are clear. I can get replacement parts if I ever need them, including different pads for different purposes. I love using small, frozen water bottles + water for cooling. The cooling itself is efficient and effective. I also love the control gizmo which permits me to set timing for on/off. Immediately after knee surgery, I used a different brand for icing my knee, and it worked, but this one is better. I also appreciate the straps which are attached to the cooling pad. I'm very pleased with this purchase and am recommending it to others.