[The influence of cryotherapy of the ankle on static balance]

The ankle is one of the most often injured joints. About it, poor balance which for example was identified on the basis of an increased sway of the centre of pressure (CoP) while it was measured with force plates is said to be an important risk factor. In the treatment of acute distorsion, ice is recommended after the trauma and in rehabilitation ice is supposed to further the beginning of active exercise and its progression. In practice it can happen that sportsmen are sent back to training or competition directly after cryotherapy. Although the question is controversially discussed, if physical activities can be re-established without danger or if an increased susceptibility to injury exists after ice application. This investigation takes up the problems if ice application at the ankle disturbs static balance so that an enlarged risk of injury could result.

In a prospective, controlled crossover study the body sway of 31 healthy subjects (19 women and 12 men, 31 +/- 5 years old with a body height of 1.72 +/- 0.1m and a body weight of 68.13 +/- 11.96 kg) before and after a ten minutes ice application at the ankle (ice) or rather before and after a ten minutes rest without any treatment (con) were analysed. The measurements took place during a 30 seconds single leg stance on a PDM multifunction force plate. The sequence, whether the investigation should first been performed with or without ice application, was allocated randomly.

Within the bounds of this study and its restrictions a ten minutes ice application of the ankle did not disturb the static balance in single leg stance and does not hold any enlarged susceptibility to injury with regard to this risk factor. Conclusions about the effect on other risk factors for ankle injury can not be drawn from this study and require independent investigations.