Product Review: Dr Cool Recovery Wraps (GIVEAWAY!)

All my life, I have been an athlete.  Soccer, lacrosse, running, dancing...  And all that time, I have been putting lots of wear and tear on my body.  I suffer from chronic pain thanks to hundreds of tiny little injuries racked up over a lifetime of pushing myself physically.  I'm always on the lookout for new solutions to an old problem.

A couple weeks ago I heard about a company called Dr Cool, makers of a new twist on the old ACE bandage.  The Dr Cool recovery wraps have a special inner layer that absorbs and holds water, which you then freeze before applying the wrap to your affected area.  The outer layer is soft Velcro, so your wrap stays in place, applying both compression and ice simultaneously, while still being flexible and comfortable enough for you to go about your life while you treat your injuries.

It seemed like an excellent idea, so I grabbed a medium-sized wrap (intended for areas like the knee, elbow, or shoulder) and gave it a try!  So far I have worn my wrap three times, each time on my body's worst joint: my knees.  To provide thorough basis for comparison, I have always wrapped ONLY my right knee, though both right and left experience the same pain.

At first, I wasn't entirely sure I believed this wrap could freeze and still be flexible enough to actually wrap.  Boy was I wrong!  I kept it in the freezer for a little under a half hour, and had a good consistency of freeze going on while still being able to twist the wrap every which way.  I think the trick is to keep the wrap rolled when you're freezing it, but I haven't tested freezing it folded or all stretched out yet.

Despite years of sore knees, I'd never actually applied an ACE bandage myself, so it took some trial and error to figure out how best to apply the right amount of compression while retaining flexibility.  After a few attempts, though, I had myself all wrapped up!  It was verrrrrrrrry cold!  But it stayed in place, moved fluidly when I needed to move around, and didn't cut into my leg no matter how I bent.

After my first use, I already noticed a big difference.  My knee, which hasn't been pain-free in probably at least a decade, didn't feel a thing - and the first test was after last Sunday's race, which was extra rough on my body thanks to a woeful lack of training.  I was even able to tackle stairs without any pain!  It was a revelation.  I've used the wrap after classes a few times now too, with similar results.  I'll have to get a second wrap now so both knees can experience the same relief!  Having ice and compression wrapped (literally) into one easy package will make caring for my aches so much easier, and will help me nurse myself to better health - and better performance!

And, thanks to the generous people at Dr Cool, YOU can take better care of yourself, too!  I have not one but TWO wraps to give away to my wonderful readers!  As always, enter using the Rafflecopter below.  The winners will get to select their size and color preferences; you can check out this handy chart to help you decide:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Be sure to also check out my Current Promotions page for additional discounts and updates on my latest giveaways!  Check back soon - there are many more awesome products to be won!