Date of Award

Fall 12-1-1984

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Department Not Listed

First Advisor

Kenneth Knight

Second Advisor

Mildred Lemon

Third Advisor

Richard J. Stibbins

Abstract

This study investigated changes in ankle skin temperature during and following various durations of therapeutic cold application. Surface temperature was measured with a telethermister on the ankles of 10 male subjects during five treatment conditions. Experimental conditions involved the application of an ice pack to the ankle for 10, 20, 30, 45, and 60 minutes. Each subject was tested under all five treatment conditions utilizing a balanced Latin Square design. Subjects were required to lie at rest in a supine manner with both ankles elevated six inches above the treatment table. Following a 30 minute pre-treatment period, ice packs were applied for the designated time (10-60 minutes), after which the ice pack was removed and the wrap reapplied. Subjects remained in position for a three hour post-application period to complete the experiment. iii Experimental and contralateral surface temperatures were monitored at 25 minute intervals during the last 15 minutes of the pre-application, and for the initial 15 minutes of the application and post-application periods. During the remainder of application and post-application, temperature was monitored at five minute intervals. The two dependent variables, experimental ankle temperature and contralateral ankle temperature, were analyzed separately with a two-way ANOVA design using application time (10, 20, 30, 45, and 60 minutes) and selected post-application times (30, 60, 90, 120, 150 and 180 minutes) as independent variables. One-way ANOVAs, Duncan Multiple Range tests, and paired t-tests were utilized to further investigate the treatment effects. iv An ANOVA analysis computed on mean skin temperatures revealed significant differences in experimental ankle temperature within each condition and between conditions over time. The results of one-way ANOVAs and Duncan Multiple Range tests showed that temperature differences between treatment conditions existed during rewarming with the exception of the 45 and 60 minute condition which were not significantly different throughout the entire 180 minutes of rewarming. Experimental temperature significantly increased between 30 minute intervals during the entire 180 minutes of rewarming in each condition except during the final 30 minutes of the 10 and 30 minute treatment conditions. Skin temperature did not rewarm to pre-application values during the 180 minute post-application period except in the 10 minute treatment condition at 180 minutes postapplication. Experimental ankle temperature did rewarm to its contralateral temperature during the 10, 20, and 30 minute treatment conditions. It was concluded that the length of ice pack application has an effect on the rewarming characteristics within the limitations of this study.

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