Date of Award

Fall 12-1-2000

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Athletic Training

First Advisor

Chris Ingersoll

Second Advisor

Mark Merrick

Third Advisor

Mitchell L. Cordova

Abstract

Context: Cryotherapy is often applied using a standard treatment time. Use of a standard treatment time fails to consider the insulating effect subculaneous adipose tissue has during cooling of underlying muscle. If differences in adipose lissuc thickness alter I he effects of cryotherapy, then a standard application time may not produce a slamlard clTcct for all patients. Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of subcutaneous adipose tissue on cooling time during cryothcrapy. Design: A 1 x 4 factorial design was used in this study. The independent variable was skin-fold thickness, 0-10mm, 1 l-20mm, 2 l-30mm, and 31-40mm. The dependent variable was cooling time measured as the time to decrease intramuscular temperature 7°C from baseline. Setting: This study was conducted in the sports injury research center at Indiana State University. Patients: Forty-eight student volunteers participated in this study. Informed consent and health status questionnaires were completed prior to participation. Individuals with vascular disease, neurological problems, or thigh skin fold measurements greater than 50 mm were excluded. Intervention: Intramuscular temperature was measured at 1 cm below the adipose tissue layer using an implantable thermocouple (diameter= 0.23 mm). Room temperature was measured using a surface thermocouple. Measurements were recorded using a portable datalogger. Main Outcome Measures: It was hypothesised that as subcutaneous adipose tissue thickness increased cooling time would increase. Results: Data were analyzed using a one-way ANOV A and Sidak's t pairwise comparison. Mean time to decrease 7°C differed across all groups iv as follows: 31-40mm(58.6 ± 11.7 min) >21-30mm(37.8 ± 9.6 min) >1 l-20mm(23.3 ± 6.7 min) >0-10mm(8.0 ± 3.4 min). Co11clusio11s: Du1ing ice npplication as skin-fold increases, cooling time increases. Therefore, treatment time must be increased to produce similar temperature changes in subjects with larger skin-folds. A 25 minute treatment may be adequate for a patient with a skin-fold of 20mm or less~ however, a 40 minute application is required to produce similar results in a patient whose skin-fold is up to 30mm. A 60 minute treatment is required to produce similar results in a patient whose skin-fold is up to 40mm.

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