The first two weeks after surgery, without the ice bucket.
Steady-Cold holds the cold for hours on one fill, so swelling and pain come down while you rest. Breg Polar Care, USA.
See Kodiak and Wave with prices →Ice works for 20 minutes. Then someone has to start again.
After knee, shoulder or ankle surgery, your surgeon wants cold on the joint 4 to 6 times a day for the first week. With ice, that means melting packs, a wrap that slips, wet sheets — and a family member refilling it day and night.
By day three, most families are exhausted, and sessions get skipped just when they matter most.
Three things ice can't do
| Ice pack | Steady-Cold | |
|---|---|---|
| How long it stays cold | About 20 minutes | Hours, at a set temperature |
| Coverage | One spot | Pad shaped to the whole joint |
| Compression | Static wrap, often slips | Measured and cycling (Wave) |
| 4–6 sessions a day | Someone refills and re-wraps | One fill, press start |
| While it runs | Hold it in place | Read, eat or rest |
Patients receiving continuous cold therapy after orthopaedic surgery have been shown to need 42% fewer opioid prescriptions, and many surgeons use cold-and-compression units to help patients stay comfortable in the first weeks after surgery.
Why surgeons send patients home with Steady-Cold
"[Endorsement quote from surgeon 1, in their own words]"
"[Endorsement quote from surgeon 2]"
Shared with each surgeon's written permission. Follow your own surgeon's plan.
Your first six weeks on Steady-Cold
Your surgeon sets the exact plan. Most look like this:
Also useful for: the first 48 hours after a sprain or strain, soreness after physio, and inflammatory arthritis flares when your doctor advises it.
Your surgeon recommended cold therapy?
Share your surgery date and the unit your surgeon named. We'll confirm the right pad and deliver before you're home.
Choose your unit
Polar Care Kodiak
Best for ACL, meniscus, arthroscopy, or knee replacement when cold is the main need.
- 6–8 hours of held cold per fill
- Battery pack option for use away from a socket
- In the box: unit, one Intelli-Flo pad, insulation barrier and power adapter
Polar Care Wave
Best when swelling is the main worry: knee replacement, shoulder or major ankle surgery.
- Two temperature settings (about 7°C / 10°C)
- Two cycling pressure levels
- Y-adapter runs two pads at once
- In the box: unit, one pad, power adapter
Order 3–5 days before your surgery so the unit is ready when you get home · Delivered across India · Sold and fulfilled by Osteokart.com, Avana's authorised retail partner.
Patients recover at home with Polar Care
Pain was easily 9 out of 10. The combination of cold and compression in this product is game changing. Pain reduced after just two uses. Even my mother could operate it with ease.
Individual experiences vary. Shared with permission.
When not to use cold therapy
Check with your doctor first, and skip or pause it if you have:
- Open wounds or unhealed incisions — until your surgeon says the wound is sealed
- Raynaud's or strong cold sensitivity
- Poor circulation — severe peripheral vascular disease
- Reduced feeling in the area — diabetic neuropathy or nerve damage
- Suspected DVT — leg swelling, redness or calf pain; get checked first
- Sickle cell disease or cryoglobulinaemia
- Young children — only under close supervision
Always keep the insulation barrier between the pad and your skin. Stop at once if the skin turns white, blue or grey, or the pain gets worse during a session.
Questions people ask us
How is Steady-Cold different from a cheaper cold compression machine?
Ask three questions of any unit: what temperature does the pad hold, how long does one fill last, and what pressure does it apply? Breg publishes all three for Polar Care. Compare on those, not on the photo.
When should I order?
3–5 days before surgery, so it's set up when you get home. If your surgery is already done, order now; the first week matters most.
Is it hard to set up?
Fill with ice and water, attach the pad, press start. We'll show you on a video call.
Can I sleep with it on?
Not routinely. Long, unbroken cold can harm skin. Use timed sessions unless your surgeon says otherwise.
Is ice good enough?
For a single sprain at home, often yes. For surgery recovery, where you need cold several times a day for two weeks, Steady-Cold holds the temperature and coverage that ice can't.
Does cold therapy slow healing?
Short, timed sessions help recovery by easing pain enough for earlier movement. Hours of non-stop cold may not — which is why sessions are timed.
Does it help knee osteoarthritis?
Less so. Cold can help during a sudden swollen flare. For daily OA pain, a Load-Shift brace has stronger evidence.
Recover at home, not at the ice bucket.
Tell us your surgery and date. We'll explain Kodiak and Wave honestly — and tell you if you don't need either.
Prefer to chat? WhatsApp our teamThis page is for general information and does not replace your surgeon's advice. Use cold therapy only as your doctor directs, in timed sessions, and stop if your skin becomes numb, very red or painful.
All products dispatched by Osteokart.com, Avana's authorised retail partner.