1MPT (Sports Medicine) Researcher, College of Applied Sciences, Dept. of Rehabilitation King Saud University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,
2Lecturer, Raj Nursing and Paramedical College, Gorakhpur, U.P, INDIA
Online published on 15 January, 2013.
To compare the effects of superficial heat and cold applications during static stretching on plantar flexors extensibility.
Pre test and post test control group.
30 volunteers of 18–30 years participated in study. Subjects were randomly and equally assigned to moist heat pack and static stretching (group A), ice pack and static stretching (group B) and static stretching (group C). Subjects in each group were given stretching to plantar flexors with 1/3rd of body weight once a day for 5 days a week for three weeks. ROM was measured before and after treatment session on the day of treatment and the end of each week.
Means and S.D of active dorsiflexion ROM after 3 weeks were 19.70±2.21for group A, 22.50±2.50 for group B and 16.10±2.80 for group C. ANOVA demonstrates that there was a significant difference in pre and post intervention ADFROM in all the three groups (P <0.05).No statistically significant difference was found between group A and B, but when they were compared with group C, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05) for each group comparison
All groups in study showed increase in the extensibility of plantar flexors, resulting in increase in ADFROM. Both the cryotherapy and thermotherapy significantly improved ROM; however, there was no difference between two treatment conditions.
Cryotherapy, Thermotherapy, Flexibility, ROM, Static Stretching
