Cryotherapy Flashcards
cryotherapy
application of cold for therapeutic purposes
indications
headache, migrain, sprains, strains, muscle contusions, tendinitis, other muscle pain
spasm
acute injury (decreased metabolism, edema, pain, etc)
chronic and inflammatory arthritis
cryokinetics
combo of cold and exercise
describe cold induced vasodilation
AKA: hunting response
increase tissue temp during cold therapy
approximately 15 minutes into treatment then alternating
not above baseline level
goals of cryotherapy
relieve or decrease pain
decrease blood flow and metabolism
protect injured tissue
decrease muscle spasm
contraindications of cryotherapy
impaired cold sensation cold-induced urticaria Raynaud's phenomenon cryoglobulinemia paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria open wounds peripheral vascular disease confused and unreliable patients
cold urticaria
allergic reaction to cold exposure
can have an anaphylactic reaction (hives, itching)
can result in systemic reaction
raynaud’s
constriction of arteries and arterioles usually in a distal extremity
restricts bloof flow and results in color changes
more commmon in women
cryoglobinemia
abnormal clumping of plasma proteins stimulated by cold application
rare
leads to skin discoloration and dyspnea
what other diseases are cyoglobulinemia assocated with?
multiple myeloma walden strom macroglobulinemia chronic liver disease infections SLE, Sjogren syndrome
cold induced hemoglobinuria
AKA paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria rare cold activates antibody to RBCs causing lysis excess hemoglobin is release in urine darkened urine acute-mostly in young children chronic- elderly
stages of cold sensation
cold, burning, aching pain, numbness
intense cold, aching pain, pins and needles, numbness
intense cold, aching pain, warmth, numbness
cryotherapy techniques
ice pack cold whirlpool ice bath ice massage controlled continuous cold unit with compression vapocoolant spray
what should you always do with cryotherapy
always test to see if they can handle cold
what kind of cryotherapy is better than others?
crushed ice
cubes with water
compression increases cooling
gel packs
not as effective
single layer of wet towel to improve conduction and prevent frostbite
don’t use comrpession
10-20 minutes
chemical cold back
do not freeze and re-use
contraindications for vapocoolant sprays
allergy open wounds post surgical eyes all other cold contraindications plus any contraindications to passive stretch
how do you cool, then rewarm the skin?
rapidly cool at first
slower cooling rate
re-warming
initial rapid rise in temperature, then slower
can remain cooler temperatures for over 1 hour following 30 minutes of treatment
faster re-warming with physical activity
what are physiological responses for cryotherapy for pain
decreased nerve conduction velocity
bombardment the CNS with cold signals
what are the physiological responses for muscle spasm?
affects muscle spindle and golgi tendon organs
decreased efferent signal noted
decreased pain interrupts pain/spasm cycle
physiological responses for edema
first reaction to cold is vasoconstriction of smooth muscle
therefore decresed blood flow and decreased edema
physiological responses on metabolic rate
cold decreases metabolism
leads to decreased blood demand
longer survival of hypoxic tissue
less secondary injury
physiologic responses on performance
verteical jumping decreased
strength of contraction is decreased in some studies and unchanged in others
proprioception, balance and agility-evidence is mixed
