The order of administration of different
Context: Recommended treatment duration for cryotherapy varies, but the primary therapeutic benefit may
be related to the amount of time required for changes in cutaneous sensation. Objective: To determine the
amount of time required to induce numbness for three different modes of cryotherapy administration, and
the amount of time that numbness persists after treatment. Design: Repeated measures. Participants: 30
healthy adults (12 males, 18 females, age = 21.1 ± 1.9 years). Interventions: Crushed ice bag, ice massage,
and cold water immersion. Main Outcome Measures: Time required to induce numbness and the amount of
time numbness remained after removal of each mode of cryotherapy. Results: Ice massage and cold water
immersion produced numbness significantly faster than the crushed ice. There were no significant differences
in terms of numbness duration. Conclusions: Changes in cutaneous sensation can be achieved in a
relatively short amount of time (6–12 minutes) with ice massage and cold water immersion. The duration
of the treatment effect did not differ among the three modes of cryotherapy administration. Key Words:
cold water immersion; ice bag; ice massage; skin; sensation
C
international journal of Athletic Therapy & training September 2013 27
modes of cryotherapy to the lower leg was randomized.
At baseline and at one-minute intervals, skin
sensation was assessed through the use of SemmesWeinstein
nylon monofilaments (Smith and Nephew
Inc., Germantown, WI), which have been found to
provide reliable measurements of diminished and
normal skin sensations.9 A detailed description of the
procedures and methods is available with the online
version of this article.