title: Postural sway following cryotherapy in healthy adults.
abstract: In light of the wide use of cryotherapy and its potential negative effects on postural stability, little is known about how postural sway is affected, particularly when the whole lower limb is immersed. The purpose of this study was to analyze the influence of cryotherapy on postural sway in healthy males. Twenty-six subjects were randomly assigned into two intervention groups: control (tepid water at ∼26°C) or ice (cold water at ∼11°C). Postural sway was measured through the center of pressure (COP) position while they stood on a force plate during bipedal (70 s) and unipedal (40 s) conditions before and after the subjects were immersed in a water tub up to the umbilical level for 20 min. COP standard deviation (SD) and COP velocity were analyzed in the anterior-posterior (AP) and medial-lateral (ML) directions. Statistical analysis showed that in the bipedal condition cryotherapy increased the COP SD and COP velocity in the ML direction. During the unipedal condition, a higher COP velocity in the AP and ML directions was also reported. Our findings indicate that cryotherapy by immersing the whole lower limb should be used with caution before engaging in challenging postural control activities.
authors.affiliation: Human Performance Laboratory, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Canada; Neuroscience Graduate Program and Biomedical Engineering, Federal University of ABC, São Bernardo do Campo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Claudiane A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Fukuchi
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Graduate Program and Biomedical Engineering, Federal University of ABC, São Bernardo do Campo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcos
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Duarte
authors.affiliation: Human Performance Laboratory, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Canada. Electronic address: stefanys@ucalgary.ca.
authors.forename: Darren J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Stefanyshyn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017679:Cryotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007101:Immersion / Q000009:adverse effects; D007866:Leg; D008297:Male; D004856:Postural Balance; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Balance; Center of pressure; Cryotherapy; Postural sway; Pre-cooling