Ice's cold wave-lengths fall in the electromagnetic spectrum next to visible light and are considered “near infrared,” they are a short wavelength, which penetrates tissue approximately 1cm.Coldness only has an effect on the rate/speed of heat transfer in the top 1cm of tissue.

Deep tissue cooling is achieved as the deep tissue re-warms the superficial tissue and consequently looses heat

The application of superficial thermal modalities (cold and hot) is governed by the physical laws of heat transfer, primarily conduction and radiation. Energy travels down a thermal gradient, with energy (heat) being removed from tissue, rather than cold being added.

Myth 2 – Evaporative cooling does not get cold enough

C+ Receptors in the skin are activated by both hot and cold sensation, in the case of cold sensation, they reach their maximum “firing rate” when skin temperature drops to 25C, when skin temperature drops below 20C the “firing rate” drops sharply. Cooling tissue below 20C has no appreciable difference on the C+ Receptors “firing rate” Arctic Blast cools superficial tissue to 19.6C

click to view larger image