An investigation into the effect on skin surface temperature of three cryotherapy modalities

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the comparative cooling effect at the knee, of Crushed Ice and two commonly used commercial cryotherapy modalities, following a clinically relevant application of 20 minutes.

DESIGN: Within subjects, randomised cross over design.

SETTING: University Laboratory

PARTICIPANTS: Eleven healthy male participants

MAIN OUTCOME Measures: Skin temperature over the anterior knee measured by thermal imaging camera.

RESULTS: Mean absolute baseline skin surface temperature (Tsk) was 28.4ºC (±1.2 ºC). The greatest reduction in Tsk was produced by Crushed Ice D14.6 ºC (±3.7 ºC) resulting in an absolute Tsk of 13.8 ºC; followed by Ice Man D12.3 ºC (±2.4 ºC) resulting in an absolute Tsk of 16.1ºC and then Arctic Flow D4.9 ºC (±1.3 ºC) resulting in an absolute Tsk of 23.5ºC. One-way ANOVA revealed significant differences (p<.05) between modalities for change in Tsk.

CONCLUSIONS: Crushed Ice and Ice Man produced very similar results following a 20 minute application to healthy adult male knees, however only Crushed Ice resulted in a skin temperature in the desired 10-15°C therapeutic range, results for Ice Man were just above this range. The resultant skin temperature following a similar application of Arctic Flow was well above the therapeutic range.