Ice Baths and Injuries

Cold therapy of athletic injuries. Current literature review.

Cryotherapy is often used in soft tissue sports injuries.

The application of a cold pack reduces local muscular blood-flow by approximately 50% after 10 minutes.

The duration of bleeding in a muscular injury is not known, but immediate application of external pressure is probably far superior in emergency treatment of an injury.

Some studies have shown significant effect of cryotherapy in emergency treatment of ankle sprains, but external pressure is often applied simultaneously and the additive effect of cryotherapy is therefore uncertain.

Cryotherapy reduces the metabolic rate in injured muscle and is often used several days after a soft tissue injury to reduce secondary hypoxic injury.

Experimental studies, however, show no effect of cryotherapy on muscle regeneration, and no controlled clinical study has shown a significant effect in emergency treatment of soft tissue sports injuries.

Thorsson, O.

Kliniskt fysiologiska laboratoriet, Universitessjukhuset MAS, Malmo.

Lakartidningen. 2001 Mar 28;98(13):1512-3.

PMID: 11330146 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Acute Ankle Sprains
Soft Tissue Injury
Evidence of Ice Therapy
Cold Therapy for Athletes
Principles and Applications
Cryo & Sports Injuries
Cryo & Thermotherapy
Cryo & Sports Medicine
Review of Ice Therapy
Ice Baths
Further Research

Physiologic Effects
Application of Cryotherapy
Indications for Cryotherapy
Contraindications
Precautions in use of cold