The Medicare Hot and Cold Therapy Braces feature a built-in, reusable gel pack that is microwavable or freezable for targeted, easy to apply hot or cold therapy to help relieve discomfort while gently supporting the injured area. Hot and Cold Therapy provides pain relief for a variety of complaints and conditions. As a general guideline, sudden acute injuries like a sprained ankle, muscle tear, bruise or inflammation should be treated with cold therapy. Hot Therapy can also be used before exercise to improve mobility by loosening muscles and increasing joint elasticity. Hot therapy can also be used to increase the range of motion.