Changes in local blood volume during cold gel pack application to traumatized ankles.
Whether application of a cold modality following soft tissue trauma causes reactive vasodilation causes reactive vasodilation is an important clinical question since one goal of using a cold modality is to limit edema formation. The purpose of this study was to measure change in local blood volume during application of a cold gel pack following inversion sprain of the ankle. Fifteen volunteers participated as subjects (age range: 18-46 years, mean age: 22.2 years). A bilateral tetrapolar impedance plethysmograph was used with venous occlusion to measure the change in local limb volume at the ankle over a 20-minute period during two conditions: at rest and with cold gel pack application. A significant reduction in local blood volume occurred during cold gel pack application compared with rest. A significant vasodilation response was not observed. The lack of vasodilation response lends support to the clinical use of a cold gel pack following soft tissue trauma when applied to the ankle for a period of up to 20 minutes.
Weston
M
M
NovaCare Inc., Sacramento, CA 95833.
Taber
C
C
Casagranda
L
L
Cornwall
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016512:Ankle Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D001810:Blood Volume / Q000502:physiology*; D017679:Cryotherapy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010992:Plethysmography, Impedance; D012146:Rest / Q000502:physiology; D013180:Sprains and Strains / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D014664:Vasodilation