Proprioception and throwing accuracy in the dominant shoulder after cryotherapy.
BACKGROUND
Application of cryotherapy modalities is common after acute shoulder injury and as part of rehabilitation. During athletic events, athletes may return to play after this treatment. The effects of cryotherapy on dominant shoulder proprioception have been assessed, yet the effects on throwing performance are unknown.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the effects of a cryotherapy application on shoulder proprioception and throwing accuracy.


METHODS
Single-group, pretest-posttest control session design.


METHODS
University-based biomechanics laboratory.


METHODS
Healthy college-aged subjects (n = 22).


METHODS
Twenty-minute ice pack application to the dominant shoulder.


METHODS
Active joint position replication, path of joint motion replication, and the Functional Throwing Performance Index.


RESULTS
Subjects demonstrated significant increases in deviation for path of joint motion replication when moving from 90 degrees of abduction with 90 degrees of external rotation to 20 degrees of flexion with neutral shoulder rotation after ice pack application. Also, subjects exhibited a decrease in Functional Throwing Performance Index after cryotherapy application. No differences were found in subjects for active joint position replication after cryotherapy application.


CONCLUSIONS
Proprioception and throwing accuracy were decreased after ice pack application to the shoulder. It is important that clinicians understand the deficits that occur after cryotherapy, as this modality is commonly used following acute injury and during rehabilitation. This information should also be considered when attempting to return an athlete to play after treatment.
Wassinger
Craig A
CA
University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA.
Myers
Joseph B
JB
Gatti
Joseph M
JM
Conley
Kevin M
KM
Lephart
Scott M
SM
D000328:Adult; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000534:rehabilitation; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D017679:Cryotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007753:Laboratories; D008297:Male; D011336:Probability; D011434:Proprioception / Q000502:physiology*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D012016:Reference Values; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D000070599:Shoulder Injuries; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000502:physiology*; D013177:Sports / Q000502:physiology*