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Related Experiment Videos

Intra-articular knee temperature changes: ice versus cryotherapy device.

Todd A Warren1, Eric C McCarty, Airron L Richardson

  • 1Vanderbilt Sports Medicine Center, Department of Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.

The American Journal of Sports Medicine
|February 24, 2004
PubMed
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Ice significantly reduced intra-articular (IA) knee temperature more than a cryotherapy device, but also caused more pain. Further research may explore pain thresholds related to IA temperature.

Area of Science:

  • Orthopedics
  • Sports Medicine
  • Pain Management

Background:

  • Cryotherapy is widely used for knee injuries, but its effects on intra-articular (IA) temperature and patient comfort are not well-documented.
  • Limited research exists comparing traditional ice application with modern cryotherapy devices regarding IA temperature changes and pain perception.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the effects of ice versus a cryotherapy device on IA temperature and subject tolerance in healthy knees.
  • To test the hypothesis that there is no significant difference in IA temperature decline or subject tolerance between ice and a cryotherapy device.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective, within-subject controlled clinical trial was conducted.
  • Twelve subjects had IA temperature and skin temperature measured bilaterally in the suprapatellar pouch after applying ice or a cryotherapy device.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Subject tolerance was assessed using a 10-cm visual analog scale (VAS).

    • Main Results:

    • Both ice and the cryotherapy device significantly reduced skin and IA temperatures (P < 0.001).
    • Ice resulted in a greater decrease in IA temperature compared to the cryotherapy device (P < 0.001).
    • Subjects reported significantly higher pain levels with ice at 30 and 60 minutes (P < 0.01) compared to the cryotherapy device.

    Conclusions:

    • Both cryotherapy methods effectively lowered skin and IA temperatures.
    • Ice demonstrated superior efficacy in reducing IA temperature but was associated with increased pain.
    • A potential threshold for IA temperature may be linked to increased pain perception.