Affiliations: [a] University of Florida, PO Box 14485, Gainesville, FL
32604, USA | [b] Undergraduate Athletic Training Education, University
of Florida, PO Box 118205, Gainesville, FL 32611-8205, USA
Note: [] Undergraduate Athletic Training Education, University of
Florida, PO Box 118205, Gainesville, FL 32611-8205, USA. Tel.: +1 352 392 0584,
ext. 297; Fax: +1 352 392 5262; E-mail: kaminski@hhp.ufl.edu
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of
cryotherapy on isokinetic ankle strength immediately after ice immersion
treatment. Concentric (CON) and eccentric (ECC) isokinetic ankle strength was
measured on 20 male subjects using a Kin Com 125 AP (Chattanooga Group, Hixson,
TN) isokinetic dynamometer. Plantar flexion, dorsiflexion, inversion and
eversion motions were assessed at speeds of 60^{\circ}/s and
120^{\circ}/s before and immediately after an ice immersion
treatment (10^{\circ}C for 20'). Peak
torque (PT) values were extracted from the maximal torque curves and used in
the data analysis. ECC PT was higher than CON PT at both speeds and was not
affected by ice immersion treatment. The only notable finding was a significant
main effect for test (PRE vs. POST) for CON dorsiflexion ankle strength. The
Tukey post hoc test determined that POST test PT values (39.7\pm
12.7 Nm) were significantly lower than PRE test scores
(45.9\pm 11.2 Nm). This finding suggests that CON
dorsiflexion strength in the ankle may be adversely affected immediately after
ice immersion application. Clinicians should still exercise caution when
allowing athletes to return to competition immediately following ice immersion
application to the lower leg.
