Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 6, 2026

Breathing-controlled Electrical Stimulation BreEStim for Management of Neuropathic Pain and Spasticity
Published on: January 10, 2013
Cryotherapy Reduces Muscle Spasticity But Does Not Affect Proprioception in Ischemic Stroke: A Randomized
Luccas Cavalcanti Garcia1, Carolina Carmona Alcântara, Gabriela Lopes Santos
1From the Laboratory of Neurological Physiotherapy Research, Department of Physical Therapy, Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), São Carlos, SP, Brazil.
Objective:
The aim of the study was to evaluate the immediate effects of cryotherapy (using an ice pack) on ankle joint position sense and the degree of spasticity after chronic hemiparetic stroke.
Design:
We used a sham-controlled crossover design. Sixteen chronic hemiparetic patients were randomly assigned to two groups: (1) those who received cryotherapy followed by a control intervention 15 days later (cryotherapy group) and (2) those who received the control intervention followed by cryotherapy 15 days later (control intervention group). Ankle joint position sense was measured on the paretic side using a Biodex Multi-joint System 3 dynamometer before and after 20 mins of either application on the calf muscles. Lower absolute error scores were calculated for data analyses and were used to determine joint position sense. The degree of spasticity of the plantar flexor muscles was scored according to the Modified Ashworth Scale.
Results:
Sixteen patients completed the crossover experiment; however, data analysis was successfully conducted in 15 participants. Cryotherapy reduced the degree of spasticity of the plantar flexor muscles without altering ankle joint position sense.
Conclusions:
Cryotherapy (using an ice pack) may reduce plantar flexor spasticity without influencing proprioception.
More Related Videos
08:53Randomized, Triple-Blind, and Parallel-Controlled Trial of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Cognitive Rehabilitation after Stroke
Published on: June 6, 2025
11:32Evaluating Cell Death Signaling by Immunofluorescence in a Rat Model of Ischemic Stroke
Published on: January 3, 2025
Related Concept Videos
Crossover Experiments
Crossover designs are performed even with smaller sample sizes since the samples can act as their controls. These are better than simple randomized trials since patients are exposed to all the treatments.
Bioequivalence Experimental Study Designs: Completely Randomized and Randomized Block Designs
Role of Affect in Interpersonal Attraction
Types of Biopharmaceutical Studies: Controlled and Non-Controlled Approaches
Non-controlled studies, commonly employed for initial exploration, lack a control group, rendering them susceptible to biases and external influences. In contrast,...
The Influence of Affect on Cognition
The Influence of Cognition on Affect