title: Muscle Reaction Time During a Simulated Lateral Ankle Sprain After Wet-Ice Application or Cold-Water Immersion.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cryotherapy is used widely in sport and exercise medicine to manage acute injuries and facilitate rehabilitation. The analgesic effects of cryotherapy are well established; however, a potential caveat is that cooling tissue negatively affects neuromuscular control through delayed muscle reaction time. This topic is important to investigate because athletes often return to exercise, rehabilitation, or competitive activity immediately or shortly after cryotherapy.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare the effects of wet-ice application, cold-water immersion, and an untreated control condition on peroneus longus and tibialis anterior muscle reaction time during a simulated lateral ankle sprain.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized controlled clinical trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  University of Hertfordshire human performance laboratory.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 54 physically active individuals (age = 20.1 ± 1.5 years, height = 1.7 ± 0.07 m, mass = 66.7 ± 5.4 kg) who had no injury or history of ankle sprain.
  
  
  METHODS
  Wet-ice application, cold-water immersion, or an untreated control condition applied to the ankle for 10 minutes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Muscle reaction time and muscle amplitude of the peroneus longus and tibialis anterior in response to a simulated lateral ankle sprain were calculated. The ankle-sprain simulation incorporated a combined inversion and plantar-flexion movement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We observed no change in muscle reaction time or muscle amplitude after cryotherapy for either the peroneus longus or tibialis anterior (P > .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ten minutes of joint cooling did not adversely affect muscle reaction time or muscle amplitude in response to a simulated lateral ankle sprain. These findings suggested that athletes can safely return to sporting activity immediately after icing. Further evidence showed that ice can be applied before ankle rehabilitation without adversely affecting dynamic neuromuscular control. Investigation in patients with acute ankle sprains is warranted to assess the clinical applicability of these interventions.
authors.affiliation: School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, United Kingdom;
authors.forename: Peter K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Thain
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Life and Health Sciences, University of Ulster, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom;
authors.forename: Christopher M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Bleakley
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport Science & Physical Activity, University of Bedfordshire, Bedford, United Kingdom. Dr Thain is now at Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, University of Bedfordshire, Luton, Bedfordshire, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Andrew C S
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Mitchell
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016512:Ankle Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000502:physiology; D056352:Athletes; D017679:Cryotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot; D006801:Humans; D007053:Ice; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology*; D014867:Water; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007053:Ice; D014867:Water
keywords: cryotherapy; neuromuscular control; proprioception; tilt platform