Localized Muscle Cooling on Balance in Healthy Individuals

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This study aims to investigate the effects of localized muscle cooling on static and dynamic stability in healthy adults.

Detailed Description
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Healthy young adult aged 18-30 years will be recruited from the College of Applied Medical Sciences (CAMS), King Saud University, Riyadh. Subjects will be excluded if they had a history of a hip or knee injury, sensory deficits in the lower extremity, a history of lower-extremity surgery, or a history of a quadriceps or hamstring muscle injury. The protocol was submitted to and approved by the Ethics Sub-Committee of Rehabilitation Research chair (RRC-2018-011). Participants will be requested to sign a written informed consent form approved by the institution ethics committee. A total of 50 participants were randomly assigned to the quadriceps cooling (QC: n = 10), hamstrings cooling (HC: n = 10), calf cooling (CC: n = 10), back muscle cooling (BC: n = 10) or control (no cooling: n = 10) group by a lottery method.A baseline assessment of mean center of gravity (COG), sway velocity (degrees/sec) for the unilateral Stance (US) will be performed. After the baseline assessment, a cold pack (gel pack, temperature -6 degrees to -12 degrees Celsius) will be placed on the target muscle for 20 minutes. One thin dry towel will be kept between the cold pack and the skin to prevent skin damage. Before and after the application of ice application the skin sensibility will be assessed by testing the participant's to a pinprick.

Official Title
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Effect of Localized Muscle Cooling on Balance in Healthy Individuals

Conditions
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Healthy

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: cooling


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Healthy young adults Exclusion Criteria: history of a hip or knee injury, sensory deficits in the lower extremity and lower back, a history of lower-extremity surgery, spinal surgery, or a history of a quadriceps or hamstring muscle injury.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 30 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Male

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Basic Science
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Double


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Quadriceps cooling<br>Participants in this group will receive a cold pack on anterior thigh muscles for 20 minutes. | Behavioral: cooling<br>* the participants in the experimental group will receive a cold pack (gel pack, temperature -6 degrees to -12 degrees Celsius) will be placed on the target muscles for 20 minutes.<br>|
| Experimental: Hamstring cooling<br>Participants in this group will receive a cold pack on posterior thigh muscles for 20 minutes. | Behavioral: cooling<br>* the participants in the experimental group will receive a cold pack (gel pack, temperature -6 degrees to -12 degrees Celsius) will be placed on the target muscles for 20 minutes.<br>|
| Experimental: Calf cooling<br>Participants in this group will receive a cold pack on posterior leg muscles for 20 minutes. | Behavioral: cooling<br>* the participants in the experimental group will receive a cold pack (gel pack, temperature -6 degrees to -12 degrees Celsius) will be placed on the target muscles for 20 minutes.<br>|
| Experimental: Back cooling<br>Participants in this group will receive a cold pack on posterior low back muscles for 20 minutes. | Behavioral: cooling<br>* the participants in the experimental group will receive a cold pack (gel pack, temperature -6 degrees to -12 degrees Celsius) will be placed on the target muscles for 20 minutes.<br>|
| No Intervention: Control<br>The participants in the control group will be rested for 20 minutes without any intervention. | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| mean center of gravity (COG) sway velocity (degrees/sec) for the unilateral Stance (US) | The participants will be asked to stood in the marked position on the force plate, with their hands positioned on the iliac crests. The participants will be requested to lift the right foot to a standard height of 10 cm. This 10-second test will be performed three times in two test conditions, including eyes open (EO) and eyes closed (EC). The mean COG sway velocity (degrees/sec) from three trials of the US will be used in the analysis. The participants will be requested to perform the same test for the left leg. The US will be used to determine each participant's ability to maintain postural stability during unilateral standing in the EO and EC conditions. | up to 3 weeks |