Effects of early cryotherapy in experimental skeletal muscle injury

Abstract

The effects of early cryotherapy on healing of rat gastrocnemius muscle injury were investigated in schedules similar to those in clinical use. After the treatment: (1) hematoma between ruptured myofiber stumps was smaller and (2) extravasation of inflammatory cells to the injury site and (3) activation of satellite cells to myotubes and mature myofibers were delayed. Early proliferation of granulation tissue was not altered. Thus, cryotherapy affected the time‐table of the healing process rather than causing qualitative differences. No negative side effects of cryotherapy were found. Positive effects of cryotherapy in clinical practice most likely depend on factors other than those involved with actual regeneration of the muscle lesion, such as reducing muscle spasms, which can cause reruptures, and analgesia allowing early mobilization. The results support the current clinical practice of treating acute muscle fiber ruptures with initial cold application followed by active early mobilization.