Cold therapy

Question 1

Explain how you would use cold therapy as a treatment?

Answer 1

1. Ask for consent.
2. Make sure area of injury is clear of any jewellery or anything else that may interfere with the treatment.
3. Fill the cryocuff with cold water and ice.
4. Test the patients skin sensation using a test tube of hot and cold water asking the patient to identify which one is touching them.
5. Attach the pipe and cold pack to the cryocuff.
6. Strap the cold pack onto the patient.
7. Lift the cryocuff in the air whilst you fill it up.
8. Turn the leaver off whilst and put it on the floor.
9. Leave on for 15-20 minutes and check every 5 minutes for rashes on the skin.
10. Lift the leaver back up to drain and place on the ground and remove to close the leaver before removing the pipe.

Question 2

Identify 3 of the main effects of cold therapy.

Answer 2

Vasoconstriction
Increased blood viscosity
Reduces swelling
Reduces pain sometimes through pain gate theory
Reduces bleeding
Reduces chronic oedema (swelling)
Reduces muscle spasms by helping to relax the muscles through vasodilation

Question 3

Explain how applying cold therapy to a patient would reduce inflammation.

Answer 3

Cold therapy will reduce inflammation as it will lower the blood temperature so vasoconstriction will occur. As this will limit the amount of white blood cells able to get to the affected area.

Question 4

Identify 3 of the main precautions to take when using cold therapy.

Answer 4

Cardiac disease
Altered blood pressure
Defective thermal sensation
Skin hypersensitivity

Question 5

Identify 3 of the main contraindications of cold therapy?

Answer 5

Decreased skim sensations
Peripheral vascular disease
Abnormal blood proteins
Vasospasm

Question 6

Outline 3 dangers of using cold therpay.

Answer 6

Fatty necrosis
Ice burns
Frost bite