Various mechanisms are thought to be involved in the
analgesic effects of cold therapy, including change in nerve
conduction velocity, attenuation or block of pain conduction
to central nervous system via gate control theory, mind deviation
from pain, improvement of energy flow in acupuncture
points and decreased muscle stretch, which all result in
increase in pain perception threshold (Ernst & Fialka 1994,
The CNM Data Group 1998, Simkin & Bolding 2004).
Gate control theory describes change of pain perception in
brain by other stimulant competitive sensory signals (Wall
1978). Also, Totonchi et al. reported a reduction in anxiety
by cold therapy. Then it seems that decrease in catecholamine
and increase in endorphin are other mechanisms of
pain management via cold therapy (Tootoonchi et al. 1999).