Best Ice Packs for Ankle Injuries

As a physical therapist, I’ve encountered many ice packs for ankle injuries. Below are 4 of my top picks. All of them are available from Amazon, so you can get relief for that injury within a day or two of speedy prime shipping.   

Don’t settle for a bag of peas; there are all kinds of ice packs for ankle injuries available online. Most of them include a wrap or compression sleeve that will keep the ice pack close to your injury, hands free. 

Top Ice Packs for Ankle Injuries (from Amazon)

1. ARRIS Ankle and Foot Ice Wrap 

This ice wrap from ARRIS combines the comfort of a compression sleeve with the cold relief of ice pack inserts. You can keep this wrap on hand for other types of foot or ankle needs as well, because the ice packs retain heat when microwaved. 

*I don’t recommend applying heat to an ankle sprain, because heat increases blood flow and will only worsen the swelling.* 

A couple features help this wrap stand out, like the soft wrap encasing the ice pack. This cloth barrier keeps the wrap comfy, compressed, and safe for your skin.

*Avoid holding a cold ice pack directly to your skin; it could “burn” your skin and cause numbness.* 

Secondly, although the wrap is advertised as an ankle wrap, you could use it to treat plantar fasciitis also. You’ll just need to wrap it a little differently to accommodate your heel. 

Some reviewers commented that the velcro straps wore off after only a couple months of use, but luckily the product is backed with a lifetime guarantee and cooperative customer service, so you shouldn’t have a problem getting a replacement if need be. 

Amazon: $23

2. The COLDEST Ankle Ice Pack 

If the ARRIS wrap is too bulky for your taste, check out the COLDEST ankle ice pack. Its minimal design means the wrap has a smaller “footprint” and wastes no cold relief on extra fabric. 

True to its name, the ice pack on this wrap is extremely cold, so you’ll be sure to nip ankle swelling in the bud. Just be careful that it’s not too cold, and include a compression sleeve, sock, or towel if it’s uncomfortably chilly. 

If you do use a towel, you may find that it crowds your foot and makes the wrap too small. Because this product was designed with athletes in mind, it might not accommodate larger ankles or feet, especially if a towel is included.

Overall, however, reviewers love how cold this ice pack is, capable of sustaining an optimal 20 minutes of ice therapy without thawing out.  

Amazon: $30

3. Relief Expert Ankle Ice Wrap 

Instead of inserting into a sleeve, the flexible ice pack from Relief Expert wraps around the foot and ankle and is secured with straps. This overall design provides better ice coverage and guarantees you’ll be able to cool the spots you need most.

Besides the comprehensive coldness, this ankle wrap also features dual-sided fabric. On one side, soft plush takes the edge off the cold and absorbs condensation. The reverse is slick nylon, so if you need a colder temperature you can just flip to this side. 

What’s nice about this design is you don’t need a towel. The soft plush side can go directly on the skin. However, the nylon side may be too cold for direct contact, so you might have to don a sock whenever you reverse it.

This ice pack is secured to the foot with separate straps, so you might get a tighter fit with this wrap than other cold packs. However, because the ice pack isn’t integrated into a sleeve, you’ll lose out on the benefits of compression.

Amazon: $29

4. TheraPaq Ankle/Foot Ice Wrap

Of the four ice packs for ankle injuries on this list, the TheraPaq is the cheapest and the only one under 20 bucks. For this low price, you’ll still get a compression wrap and two ice packs: one for your foot and one for your ankle.

Maybe you don’t need both ice packs (particularly if you’re just icing your ankle), but with two on hand you could keep one in the freezer while you use the other. That way, you’ll always have a cold pack ready to go.

Both ice packs are capable of heat therapy as well as cold, so you might want to hang onto this wrap for future aches and pains. 

Reviewers love this ice wrap and laud how comfortable and effective it is. It’s been used to treat achilles tendon injuries, ankle sprains, and even plantar fasciitis.

Amazon: $17

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Ice Packs for Ankle Injuries: Things to Consider

Once you’ve ordered your ice pack and await its arrival, keep in mind that icing your ankle is just one component of a successful recovery. You also need to protect it, elevate it, compress it, and lightly put it to work.

Remember the acronym RICE? Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. Although that method is good for many injuries, there’s another one that’s even better for ankle injuries: POLICE. 

POLICE stands for Protection, Optimum Loading, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. Instead of emphasizing rest – which you should certainly do, to start – this method encourages you to lightly strengthen the muscle (Optimum Loading) while keeping the injury safe (Protection).

What does a proper POLICE therapy look like? After a day or two of RICE, buy yourself a sturdy ankle brace and consider incorporating light movement and physical therapy in your routine. Leaving your sprained muscles out of play for too long will lead to atrophy and actually prolong your recovery time.

After Optimum Loading, you can then whip out your fancy new ice wrap and apply cold relief, along with compression and elevation. Don’t do more than 20 minutes of cryotherapy at once, however, and make sure the ice pack isn’t burning your skin. Too much cold for too long can cause tissue damage.

As with any injury, always consult with your physician or physical therapist if pain or swelling persists.