C. Taber et al., MEASUREMENT OF REACTIVE VASODILATION DURING COLD GEL PACK APPLICATIONTO NONTRAUMATIZED ANKLES, Physical therapy, 72(4), 1992, pp. 294-299
Conflicting results regarding local vascular response during cryothera
py have been reported in the literature. The purpose of this study was
to determine whether application of a cold pack reduced blood volume
in a nontraumatized ankle. Thirteen subjects ranging in age from 18 to
30 years (XBAR = 22; SD = 3.9) participated in the study. An impedanc
e plethysmograph, in combination with venous occlusion, was used to me
asure the changes in local blood volume at the ankle over a 20-minute
period for the following three conditions: rest, room-temperature gel
pack application, and cold gel pack application. A significant reducti
on in local blood volume was found for the cold gel pack condition in
comparison with the resting condition. This reduction was attributed t
o a combination of pressure from the weight of the cold gel pack and t
he pack's temperature. Maximum decrease in blood volume occurred at 13
.5 minutes after cold gel pack application. Reactive vasodilation was
not observed. The results lend support to the clinical use of a cold g
el pack when a reduction in local circulation is desired, such as in t
he management of acute-phase soft tissue trauma.