Ice Bag Application Research Articles

Cryotherapy does not impair shoulder joint position sense

Dover G, Powers ME. Cryotherapy does not impair shoulder joint position sense. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2004;85:1241–6. Objective To determine the effects of a cryotherapy treatment on shoulder proprioception. Design Crossover design with repeated measures. Setting University athletic training and sports medicine research laboratory. Participants Thirty healthy subjects (15 women, 15 men). Intervention A 30-minute cryotherapy treatment. Main outcome measures Joint position sense was measured in the dominant shoulder by using an inclinometer before and after receiving 30 minutes of either no ice or a 1-kg ice bag application. Skin temperature was measured below the tip of the acromion process and recorded every 5 minutes for the entire 30 minutes and immediately after testing. Three different types of error scores were calculated for data analyses and used to determine proprioception. Results Separate analyses of absolute, constant, and variable error failed to identify changes in shoulder joint proprioception as a function of the cryotherapy application. Conclusions Application of an ice bag to the shoulder does not impair joint position sense. The control of proprioception at the shoulder may be more complex than at other joints in the body. Clinical implications may involve modifying rehabilitation considerations when managing shoulder injuries.