Effects of Cryotherapy on sensation and pinch strength

Background: Cryotherapy is commonly used in physical therapy with many known benefits; many patients are treated with cryotherapy, but the effects of cryotherapy on sensation and pinch strength are not conclusive. The purpose therefore was to know the effects of cryotherapy on sensation and pinch st...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Bhairavi Bhandari, Lata Parmar
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer – Medknow Publications 2013-07-01
Series:Journal of Integrated Health Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/2347-6486.239539
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Summary:Background: Cryotherapy is commonly used in physical therapy with many known benefits; many patients are treated with cryotherapy, but the effects of cryotherapy on sensation and pinch strength are not conclusive. The purpose therefore was to know the effects of cryotherapy on sensation and pinch strength. Methods: An experimental study, thirty females, aged 18 to 26 years participated. Baseline measurements were taken for sensation and pinch strength. Participants were asked to immerse their hand in 100 of cold water for fifteen minutes; post Cryotherapy measurements of TPD and pinch strength were taken. Aesthesiometer used to measure TPD and pinch gauge hydraulic dynamometer was used to measure pinch strength. Results: Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test was used for analysis. The z-scores although negative, TPD sensations for thumb and finger were not statistically different pre and post experiment, p value 0.458 and 0.154 respectively. Pinch strength was reduced after application of Cryotherapy, baseline value for pinch strength was (2.33±0.877) and post experiment (1.95±0.834), p value is 0.02. Conclusions: TPD not affected; Pinch strength significantly decreased immediately after cryotherapy.
ISSN:2347-6486
2347-6494