Background: Different cryotherapy modalities have distinct effects on sensory and motor nerve conduction parameters. However, it is unclear how
these parameters change during the post-cooling period and how the exercise carried out in this period would influence the recovery of nerve
conduction velocity (NCV).
Objectives: To compare the effects of three cryotherapy modalities on post-cooling NCV and to analyze the effect of walking on the recovery of sensory and motor NCV.
Methods: Thirty six healthy young subjects were randomly allocated into three groups: ice
massage (n=12), ice pack (n=12) and cold water immersion (n=12). The modalities were applied to the right leg. The subjects of each modality
group were again randomized to perform a post-cooling activity: a) 30min rest, b) walking 15 min followed by 15 min rest. The NCV of sural(sensory) and posterior tibial (motor) nerves was evaluated. Initial (pre-cooling) and final (30 min post-cooling) NCV were compared using a
paired t-test. The effects of the modalities and the post-cooling activities on NCV were evaluated by an analysis of covariance. The significance level was α=0.05. Results: There was a significant difference between immersion and ice massage on final sensory NCV (p=0.009). Ice pack and ice massage showed similar effects (p>0.05). Walking accelerated the recovery of sensory and motor NCV, regardless of the modality previously applied (p