Breg Polar Care Cube Cold Therapy Machine

Who the Breg Polar Care Cube is for

The Polar Care Cube is Breg's straightforward cold-only machine. It suits patients recovering from arthroscopic or reconstructive surgery, joint replacement, general surgery or an injury whose clinician wants steady, prescribed cold without compression. Because the Cube runs on interchangeable WrapOn pads, the same cooler can treat a knee, shoulder, hip, ankle or back; you choose the pad above. Breg lists post-operative, arthroscopic, reconstructive, general surgery, post-trauma, chronic pain and physical therapy use among its common applications.

What's included

• Polar Care Cube cooler with its built-in pump
• Power supply
• The WrapOn pad you select (Regular, Large or XL knee; Regular or XL shoulder; Multi-Use XL; hip; ankle; or back). The "Cooler Only" option has no pad.

Breg requires an insulation barrier between the pad and your skin, so most buyers also add Cube sterile dressings. Extra or replacement WrapOn pads and a dual Y pad connector are sold separately.

How the Cube works

Fill the cooler with ice to the ice line and cold water to the water line, connect the pad's hose, and plug in. A quiet pump moves ice water through the pad and back again. There are no settings to fiddle with. When the cold fades, drain some water and add fresh ice.

Specs

• Cold per fill: about 6 to 8 hours after each ice replacement (Breg)
• Pad temperature: averages 45°F or above with a Polar Dressing in place (Breg instructions for use)
• Weight: 4.0 lb empty, 14.5 lb filled
• Footprint: roughly 12″ x 12″, with a power cord just under 4 ft long
• Pump: described by Breg as whisper-quiet. Never run it without water.
• Warranty: 180 days against defects from Breg

WrapOn pad sizes: Knee 10.25″ x 11.25″ (04700); Large Knee 11.5″ x 12″ (04703); XL Knee 12.25″ x 19″ (04705); Shoulder 10.25″ x 11.5″ (04900); XL Shoulder 13″ x 21.5″ (04905); Multi-Use XL 11.25″ x 11.25″ (04790); Hip 11.5″ x 12″ (04750); Ankle 8.25″ x 9.75″ (04730); Back 8.25″ x 11″ (09805). See the Cube size chart before ordering.

Buy or rent a Cube?

Rental programs typically charge by the week, then you hand the unit back. The Cube is single-patient equipment you keep for the whole recovery and any future procedure. Compare a rental quote for your expected weeks of use with the price here; our rent-or-buy article breaks it down. HSA and FSA cards work at checkout, and it's smart to keep your receipt and prescription on file.

Polar Care Cube questions

How long does the Cube stay cold?

Breg rates it at roughly 6 to 8 hours of cold per ice fill.

Do I need a prescription?

Federal law restricts the Cube to sale by or on the order of a medical professional, and your prescriber should give you a schedule for how often and how long to use it.

How often should I check my skin?

Breg's instructions say typically every 1 to 2 hours, always with an insulation barrier under the pad.

Do Cube WrapOn pads fit the Kodiak or the Wave?

No. WrapOn pads work with the Cube, Glacier and Cub only. Not sure what fits? Read which replacement pad fits my machine.

Returns and warranty

This is a single-patient medical device, so once it ships we can only take it back for a defect covered by Breg's warranty. Details are in our refund policy. Instructions for use: Polar Care Cube operating instructions (PDF).