The Effect of Cryotherapy on Proprioception and Knee Extensor Torque in Healthy Volunteers

Objectives: This study was done to investigate the influences of cryotherapy on the joint position sense (JPS) and extensor muscles torque of the knee. Methods: Forty healthy volunteers (20 men, 20 women; age range, 21 – 30 y) participated. Two cooling pads were applied to the knee and anterior thigh for 15 minutes at 4°C. The accuracy of the knee JPS was evaluated before and after cooling in two angles, including 45° and 60° flexion. Extensor muscles torque of the knee was obtained in two velocities of 30°/s and 120°/s. Results: The effect of time and the interaction between the group and time were not significant for both active and passive repositioning error tests of the knee joint angles (P ≥ 0.05). The knee extensor's muscle torque increased significantly during both velocities of 30°/s and 120°/s, immediately and 30 minutes after the cryotherapy in the experimental group (P ≤ 0.01). Cooling for 15 minutes made a higher knee extensor muscle torque and did not change the JPS. Conclusions: These findings should be considered for therapeutic programs that involve exercise immediately after a period of cryotherapy.