Cold Pain Therapy Market

The adoption of cold pain therapy products is rising across the globe due to the growing adoption of analgesic patches, increasing aging population, growing use of cold pain therapy among middle-aged women, and the rising preference for self-care. However, a lack of reimbursement for cold pain therapy, absence of clinical evidence in the favor of cold pain therapy, and significant health hazards and discomfort related to cold pain therapy products are restraining the growth of this market.

The global cold pain therapy market has been segmented on the basis of products into OTC [pharmaceuticals (gels, ointments, and creams, sprays and foams, patches, and roll-ons) and medical devices (cold packs, cooling towels, compress, wraps, and pads)] and prescription-based devices (motorized and non-motorized devices); application (musculoskeletal disorders, sport medicine, post-operative, post-trauma, and physical therapy); and region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Rest of the World).

The musculoskeletal disorders application segment is expected to account for the largest market share in 2016 and projected to grow at the fastest CAGR during the study period. The availability of a large number of OTC pain management products for musculoskeletal disorders, instant pain relief provided by cold therapy products, and increasing trend of self-care are some factors driving the growth of the musculoskeletal disorders market.

Geographically, North America is expected to command the largest share of the global cold pain therapy market in 2016, followed by Europe. The growth in the North American market is primarily driven by various factors, including the large number of surgeries, stringent regulations on opioid prescription, and new product launches.

In 2015, the global market was dominated by Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical Co., Inc. (Japan), 3M Company (U.S.), and Breg Inc. (U.S.). New product launches, agreements and contracts, and mergers are the major strategies adopted by market players to strengthen their presence and increase their share in the cold pain therapy market.