ACTS AS ICE
PACKS WHEN WET

Incrediwear Equine products utilize thermoelectric properties and semiconductor technology to create a sustained cooling effect when activated by moisture and body heat. These advanced materials make them not only a scientifically innovative alternative to traditional ice packs but also more effective and safer for equine care.

Scientific Mechanisms Behind the Cooling Effect

Thermoelectric Properties:

The germanium and carbon-impregnated fibers in Incrediwear products exhibit thermoelectric behavior. When activated by body heat, these semiconductors Absorb heat from the surface of the horse’s skin and transfer this heat through the material, where it dissipates into the environment. This process is enhanced by the Peltier Effect, where heat is absorbed from the skin and released elsewhere, creating a cooling sensation.

Enhanced Evaporation:

Moisture within the fabric facilitates heat transfer, aiding in the rapid removal of excess heat from the body. This is not merely passive evaporation but part of an active thermoelectric process that prolongs and intensifies the cooling effect.

Far Infrared Radiation (FIR):

Germanium in the fabric emits FIR, which improves circulation by increasing blood flow and oxygen delivery to tissues. While this aids recovery, it also ensures that tissues remain oxygenated and flexible during cooling, unlike the constrictive effects of ice.

Supporting Evidence

A 2021 study by Marta Cobo Moreno compared the temperature-reducing effects of Incrediwear Equine bandages soaked in water to conventional ice protectors in the metacarpal region of horses. Key findings include:

  • Greater Cooling Efficiency: Incrediwear bandages reduced surface temperature by 17.49%, achieving a larger and longer-lasting reduction in maximum temperature (Tmax) compared to ice.
  • Sustained Cooling: The bandages maintained lower Tmax values for up to 15 minutes longer than ice protectors, showing their ability to provide extended therapeutic cooling.
  • Practical Advantages: Unlike ice packs, Incrediwear bandages are adaptable to different anatomical regions, do not risk frostbite, and require only water for activation—making them more user-friendly in diverse settings.

Temperature Drop in Live Studies:

  • In trials with live horses, wet Incrediwear products demonstrated a sustained 23°F (approximately 12.8°C) reduction in surface temperature, lasting for over an hour, without compromising circulation or tissue health.

Thermal Trials with Water Phantoms:

  • Studies using water phantoms showed significant cooling when wet germanium-impregnated sleeves were applied, compared to baseline cooling. This cooling was attributed directly to the thermoelectric and Peltier effects.

Enhanced Circulation:

  • Doppler ultrasound studies confirmed improved blood velocity when Incrediwear products were applied, further enhancing recovery and tissue repair by supporting oxygen and nutrient delivery to affected areas.

Why Cooling Matters for Equine Health?

Horses, especially performance athletes, frequently experience tendon and ligament stress in the distal limbs due to limited vascularization in these tissues. Cooling is critical for:

Reducing Inflammation:

Inflammation is the body’s natural response to injury or overuse, characterized by swelling, heat, and pain. While it’s part of the healing process, excessive or prolonged inflammation can delay recovery and lead to chronic issues in horses. Cooling reduces the activity of inflammatory markers like cytokines and prostaglandins, which drive swelling and pain. By lowering the temperature, cooling minimizes capillary leakage (fluid buildup in tissues) and inhibits the enzymatic processes that perpetuate inflammation. Unlike ice, which can suppress inflammation too aggressively and slow healing, Incrediwear promotes gentle cooling that allows for inflammation control without halting the body’s necessary repair mechanisms.

Preventing Heat Damage:

Tendons and ligaments in horses are particularly vulnerable to heat damage, especially during high-intensity activities like jumping, racing, or endurance riding. Hyperthermia (excess heat) in tendons can exceed safe levels during strenuous exercise, leading to cellular damage and structural degradation. Excessive heat in the tendon matrix can denature proteins like collagen, compromising the tendon’s strength and elasticity. Over time, this can increase the risk of tendon rupture or degenerative conditions like tendinitis. Maintaining an optimal temperature post-exercise helps prevent the accumulation of heat-related damage. By dissipating excess heat, cooling ensures that tendon cells remain viable and healthy. The sustained cooling effect of Incrediwear products helps prevent the overheating of tendons and ligaments.

Accelerating Recovery:

Efficient recovery is essential for equine athletes to maintain performance and prevent injury. After intense activity, metabolic waste products like lactic acid accumulate in muscles and connective tissues, contributing to soreness, stiffness, and delayed recovery. Cooling reduces tissue metabolism, slowing the production of inflammatory byproducts while promoting the removal of existing waste through improved blood flow and lymphatic drainage. This dual action minimizes muscle fatigue and post-exercise stiffness. By combining thermoelectric cooling with circulation enhancement, Incrediwear accelerates recovery more effectively than ice. Improved oxygenation and waste removal in key areas, ensure quicker restoration of normal function and reduce the risk of secondary injuries.

Providing Pain Relief:

Pain often accompanies inflammation and overuse in equine athletes. While ice therapy is commonly used for pain management, it carries risks of overcooling, which can harm tissue and slow recovery. Lowering the temperature decreases nerve conduction speed, which reduces the transmission of pain signals to the brain. This localized effect provides immediate relief without systemic intervention, like drugs. While ice numbs the area, it can also freeze superficial tissues, leading to discomfort and potential tissue damage. In contrast, Incrediwear products deliver controlled cooling that avoids these risks. Pain relief is achieved without freezing the tissue, ensuring comfort and safety. The enhanced circulation promoted by Incrediwear also addresses the underlying causes of pain, such as inflammation and waste buildup, providing more comprehensive and lasting relief.

Why Incrediwear Outperforms Ice?

No Risk of Vasoconstriction

Traditional ice therapy works by rapidly cooling the skin and underlying tissues, causing vasoconstriction, or the narrowing of blood vessels. While this can temporarily reduce inflammation, it also limits blood flow to the affected area. This restricted circulation delays tissue repair by reducing the delivery of oxygen, nutrients, and immune cells to damaged tissues. Incrediwear products leverage thermoelectric and semiconductor technology to stimulate vasodilation, the widening of blood vessels. This enhances circulation, ensuring a steady flow of oxygen and nutrients to injured or stressed tissues while simultaneously removing waste products like lactic acid. 

By cooling while promoting circulation, Incrediwear provides a balanced approach to recovery, allowing tissues to heal faster without compromising the body’s natural repair mechanisms. Horses' tendons and ligaments already have limited vascularization, so maintaining optimal blood flow is critical for effective healing. Incrediwear’s vasodilation effect helps counteract this limitation, supporting quicker recovery and reducing the risk of further injury.

Longer-Lasting Cooling

Traditional ice packs and ice boots often deliver an abrupt and intense drop in temperature when first applied. This sudden cold can be harsh, especially for sensitive tissues like tendons and ligaments, which are prone to injury. The initial shock of extreme cold may even trigger a stress response in the body, temporarily increasing muscle tension rather than relaxing the tissue.

Additionally, ice therapy rapidly loses its cooling effectiveness as the ice warms to body temperature. Most ice packs become ineffective within 20–30 minutes, requiring frequent reapplication. This creates inconsistent cooling and disrupts recovery sessions, making it difficult to maintain optimal conditions for inflammation management.

Incrediwear products avoid these issues by offering gentle, sustained cooling through thermoelectric properties. When activated with moisture and body heat, semiconductors like germanium and carbon create a temperature gradient that steadily pulls heat away from the surface of the skin. Unlike ice, this cooling process starts at a comfortable intensity and gradually builds, avoiding the sudden shock of extreme cold.

The thermoelectric cooling effect ensures that heat is dissipated consistently over time, providing longer-lasting relief without needing reapplication. This not only makes the cooling process more effective but also ensures the horse remains relaxed and comfortable throughout treatment.

Safer for Tissues

Prolonged or improper use of ice therapy can result in frostbite or cold-induced tissue damage, particularly in sensitive areas like the tendons and ligaments. Overcooling can impair cellular function, delay recovery, and even damage superficial tissues. Incrediwear products provide a gentle and controlled cooling effect that avoids the risks of freezing tissues. The thermoelectric cooling maintains safe temperature reductions without plunging tissues into dangerously low ranges.

Unlike ice, which can stiffen or damage tendons, Incrediwear preserves the structural integrity of the tissue during cooling, ensuring both comfort and safety. Equine tendons, particularly in performance horses, are prone to injury and require careful management. Incrediwear’s safer cooling method reduces inflammation while protecting these delicate structures from harm.

Supports Tendon Flexibility

Ice therapy can cause tendons and ligaments to stiffen temporarily, as extreme cold slows cellular activity and reduces elasticity. While this can reduce pain, it also makes the tissues more prone to strain or tears when movement resumes.

Incrediwear cools tissues without excessively lowering their temperature, allowing tendons and ligaments to retain their natural elasticity. The improved circulation stimulated by the products ensures that tissues remain oxygenated, hydrated, and pliable, even during cooling.

Horses rely on the flexibility of their tendons and ligaments for every aspect of movement, from basic walking to high-performance activities like jumping or galloping. Incrediwear’s ability to maintain tendon elasticity during recovery reduces the risk of secondary injuries and ensures safer transitions back to activity.

Convenience and Adaptability

Traditional ice therapy requires consistent access to frozen materials, such as ice packs or boots, and is often bulky and inconvenient to apply. For horse owners and trainers working in remote areas, during travel, or at competitions, this reliance on frozen items can be impractical.

Incrediwear products are activated with just water, eliminating the need for refrigeration or freezing. This makes them incredibly easy to use in any setting, whether at the stable, on the road, or at an event.

Their lightweight and flexible design allows them to adapt to various parts of the horse’s body, ensuring effective application.

Horses often require care in unpredictable environments, such as during multi-day events or long-distance travel. Incrediwear’s adaptability ensures that cooling therapy is always accessible, providing consistent support regardless of the location.

Incrediwear Equine products combine cutting-edge thermoelectric technology with practical usability to provide a safer, more effective alternative to ice. Backed by research, and thermographic imaging trials, these products offer enhanced cooling, better circulation, and extended recovery support. From injury prevention to post-exercise recovery, Incrediwear Equine products redefine what’s possible in equine cooling therapy—delivering results that are not just comparable to ice but far superior.

 

References are available upon request for further scientific insight.