Motor and Sensory Nerve Conduction are Affected Differently by Ice Pack, Ice Massage, and Cold Water Immersion.

The purpose of this study is to compare the effect of different cold treatments on nerves. Cryotherapy is a method of therapy that has been shown to reduce pain and prevent muscle spasms. Perhaps this is why professional athletes use ice baths after a strenuous workout. They use this method of recovery after workouts to reduce the pain associated. This study compared three different ways to cool skin and muscle tissue; ice pack, ice massage, and cold water immersion.

This study consisted of 18 men and 18 women, taking into account the participants’ body mass index, age, and height. Skin temperatures were measured using an infrared thermometer that displays precise results. And nerve conduction measurements were established using standard electrodes. The participants were randomly assigned into three groups, and all the participants received the method at the same time to avoid differences in circadian clocks among individuals. The procedure was tested on the same body part, the right calf. The three different methods were applied for 15 minutes continuously by the same person. For the cold water immersion, the participant was asked to place the right leg into a prepared container of cold water. The skin temperature and the nerve conductors were measured both before and after the procedure. There was a decrease in skin temperature after the application of the three different methods. The ice massage caused a greater decrease in skin temperature than with the ice pack and with the cold water immersion. All three of the methods showed an increase in action potential in motor nerves. The cold water immersion had, by far the most influence on the motor and sensory nerves than the ice massage and ice pack. There was no difference between the ice pack and the ice massage results on the effects of the motor and sensory nerves.

There are limitations that should be addressed. Because neither the ice pack method or the ice massage method required the removal of electrodes, but the cold water immersion did, the data could be skewed. Another limitation is the area that the ice pack and the ice massage were much smaller than that of the cold water immersion. Also, all of the participants were young and healthy, perhaps there would have been a different outcome if the participants ages differed.

Herrera, E., Sandoval, M. C., Camargo, D. M., & Salvini, T. F. (2010). Motor and Sensory Nerve Conduction Are Affected Differently by Ice Pack, Ice Massage, and Cold Water Immersion. Physical Therapy, 90(4), 581-591. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.