Effect of Cryotherapy on the Intrinsic Muscle Strength of the Hand

Purpose of the study: Therapeutic use of cold has clinical applications both in rehabilitation and other areas of medicine. Cryotherapy has been shown to decrease, increase and not impact torque production. Grasping is a functional activity which requires isometric strength of intrinsic and extrinsic muscles of hand. Till date few studies have been conducted to see the carry over effect of cryotherapy on isometric strength of muscles. Thus, purpose of the present study is to find out the immediate and carry over effect of cryotherapy on isometric intrinsic muscle strength of hand.

Material and Methodology: Materials used were, hand held dynamometer, thermometer, ice water, first aid tray.

Design: Single group prospective experimental study design.

Variables: Cryotherapy, Intrinsic muscle strength.

Procedure: A group of 20 students in college of physiotherapy, loni, Dist. Ahmednagar were selected, ruling out contradictions to cryotherapy. After explaining the whole procedure, subjects' hands were immersed in water of 10º-15ºc till 15 minutes. Intrinsic muscle strength was checked before the treatment of cryotherapy and immediately after, after 15 min, 30 min, and 45 min of cryotherapy treatment with the help of hand held dynamometer. Position of patients was high sitting, elbow supported; wrist slight extended according to the recommendations of the American Hand Society of Hand Therapists. The dynamometer was set at the second handle position.

Result: Paired t-test was applied. There is significant decrease in Intrinsic muscle strength immediately after the cryotherapy (t -18.835; D.F. =19, p<0.0001). There is significant increase in Intrinsic muscle strength after 30 min of cryotherapy (t-9.484; D.F. =19, p<0.0001).Intrinsic muscle strength reaches to its pre immersion value after 45 min of cryotherapy application (t-0.5684; d.f=19, p-0.5764).

Conclusion: The study concludes that muscle strength is diminished by cooling the limb in water at 10 -15 C. Intrinsic muscle strength increases over the original value, after cooling ceased (15–30 minutes) and reaches to its pre immersion value after 45 min of cryotherapy application.