In Philadelphia in late November, keeping cool has never been a problem.
That is, unless you run the
Philadelphia Marathon. The annual race,
which took place on Sunday, Nov. 21, attracted a field of over
11,000 runners, all battling for the finish line. When they got there,
runners were greeted by the folks at
Arctic Ease, a Phoenixville company
specializing in cryotherapy wraps and pads proven to reduce swelling
and stay cool for hours. The wraps require no time in the freezer and
can be attached for more mobility.
A veteran of the health care industry and avid athlete, CEO Carol Forden
founded Arctic Ease in 2009 after creating a chemical compound in her
garage. Designed to remove heat from injured tissue, Arctic Ease keeps
affected areas at a safe 60 degrees, reducing swelling and pain.
"If you are a weekend warrior and you overdo it or you are a runner in a
marathon, on Monday, it is going to be a little tough to move around,"
says Forden. "What this product does is removes that swelling so you
don't have that pain on Monday."
Along with offering wraps to runners at the finish line, Arctic Ease
added a product sample to each marathoner's registration info and
sponsored a massage tent. The company has appeared at marathons across
the country and, after hiring four top-level positions in October 2009,
is looking to expand into new markets in 2011. Along with expansion into
other sports, Forden says the product may soon help osteoarthritis
sufferers return mobility to creaky joints.
"If you have ever twisted an ankle and wound up in the ER, you know that
until they reduce the swelling, they can't do much," says Forden. "If
you have nerve damage or a sprained ankle, they will tell you to come
back three weeks later and they want you icing that whole time. Arctic
Ease makes this process a little easier."
Source: Carol Forden, Arctic Ease
Writer: John Steele