Effects of Cryotherapy on Knee Function

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The knee joint is commonly used and also stricken by high loads and injuries in sports. One technique in emphasis is cryotherapy, a physiotherapeutical intervention characterized by the use of low temperatures for tissue trauma's rehabilitation. Several studies analysed the effects of cryotherapy and brought important results related to pain and strength reduction, also to muscle contraction speed reduction. Although, considering the risk-benefit from de intervention it's pertinent to observe the presence of deleterious effects, especially the ones that impact on motor function. This scenario has been brought by scientists and currently the main gap from this theme resides on the repercussions of the technique application on functional answers

Detailed Description
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Eighty participants will receive control (rest) and the experimental condition (cryotherapy), with an interval of 48 hours. The intervention group will undergo: i) assessment, ii) 20 minutes of cryotherapy, iii) reassessment, iv) 20 minutes of rest and v) reassessment, while the control group remains at rest for 20 minutes. Assessments will be composed of knee function by the modified Star Excursion Balance Test, muscle tone by the myoton pro, skin temperature by a thermographic camera, thermic comfort, perception of balance and beliefs in cryotherapy. Data will be described using mean and standard deviation and compared by Mixed ANOVA (time x intervention) with post Bonferroni tests, with significance level of 0.05.

Official Title
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Effects of Cryotherapy on Knee Function: Randomized Clinical Trial

Conditions
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Functional Status, Muscle Tone

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Cryotherapy


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: 18 to 28 years old healthy no musculoskeletal complaints Exclusion Criteria: failure to follow protocol complaints of injury or pain during the assessments

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 28 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

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: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Cryotherapy<br>20 minutes of cryotherapy on the dominant knee with ice bags | Other: Cryotherapy<br>* 20 minutes of cryotherapy on the dominant knee with ice bags<br>|
| No Intervention: Control<br>20 minutes of rest | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Knee balance | The modified Star Excursion Balance test will measure lower limb reach distance in centimeters | Change from baseline to 20 minutes | 
| Knee balance | The modified Star Excursion Balance test will measure lower limb reach distance in centimeters | Change from baseline to 40 minutes | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Skin temperature | thermographic camera FLIR E-8 XT (FLIR Systems, Sweden) | Change from baseline to 20 minutes | 
| Skin temperature | thermographic camera FLIR E-8 XT (FLIR Systems, Sweden) | Change from baseline to 25 minutes | 
| Skin temperature | thermographic camera FLIR E-8 XT (FLIR Systems, Sweden) | Change from baseline to 30 minutes | 
| Skin temperature | thermographic camera FLIR E-8 XT (FLIR Systems, Sweden) | Change from baseline to 35 minutes | 
| Skin temperature | thermographic camera FLIR E-8 XT (FLIR Systems, Sweden) | Change from baseline to 40 minutes | 
| Thermic Comfort | a 10cm scale ranging from 0 very comfortable and 10 very uncomfortable will be used | Change from baseline to 20 minutes | 
| Thermic Comfort | a 10cm scale ranging from 0 very comfortable and 10 very uncomfortable will be used | Change from baseline to 40 minutes | 
| Balance perception | a likert scale will be used to answer the question  How good was your balance over the test? 1=nothing, 2=a little, 3=moderate, 4= a lot, 5=extremely | Change from baseline to 20 minutes | 
| Balance perception | a likert scale will be used to answer the question  How good was your balance over the test? 1=nothing, 2=a little, 3=moderate, 4= a lot, 5=extremely | Change from baseline to 40 minutes | 
| Muscle tone | Muscle tone will be measured in hertz by the MyotonPRO wich has a probe that will be placed perpendicular to the skin surface on the muscle belly previously marked with a pen by the evaluator at the Quadriceps; | Change from baseline to 20 minutes | 
| Muscle tone | Muscle tone will be measured in hertz by the MyotonPRO wich has a probe that will be placed perpendicular to the skin surface on the muscle belly previously marked with a pen by the evaluator at the Quadriceps; | Change from baseline to 25 minutes | 
| Muscle tone | Muscle tone will be measured in hertz by the MyotonPRO wich has a probe that will be placed perpendicular to the skin surface on the muscle belly previously marked with a pen by the evaluator at the Quadriceps; | Change from baseline to 30 minutes | 
| Muscle tone | Muscle tone will be measured in hertz by the MyotonPRO wich has a probe that will be placed perpendicular to the skin surface on the muscle belly previously marked with a pen by the evaluator at the Quadriceps; | Change from baseline to 35 minutes | 
| Muscle tone | Muscle tone will be measured in hertz by the MyotonPRO wich has a probe that will be placed perpendicular to the skin surface on the muscle belly previously marked with a pen by the evaluator at the Quadriceps; | Change from baseline to 40 minutes | 
| Beliefs | The participants will respond yes or no to the questions Do you believe that cryotherapy is an effect treatment for acute injuries? and Do you believe cryotherapy have deleterious effects on muscle function? | Baseline | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Knee, Cryotherapy, Balance