Cold Water Immersion Does Not Reduce Knee Joint Position Sense in Healthy Participants: a Randomised Cross-over Trial

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The aim of this project is to assess the effect of cold water immersion on knee joint re-positional sense in healthy subjects. Cryotherapy, in the form of cold water immersion, had previously been shown to improve athletic performance however, debate exists within the existing literature regarding whether proprioception, in the form or joint position sense, is effected post treatment. Null hypothesis (H0): Water immersion has no effect on joint position sense (JPS). Alternate hypothesis (H1): Water immersion has an effect on joint position sense.

Detailed Description
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This was a prospective, randomised, cross-over design where volunteers acted as their own controls. The volunteers were immersed at two temperatures (detailed below) and these sessions were separated by six to ten days. The order of the testing was randomly assigned using a random number generator. Ethical approval of the design of this trial was gained from the University of Limerick's Research Ethics Committee and signed informed consent was gained from each participant before any data collection took place.

Official Title
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Cold Water Immersion Does Not Reduce Knee Joint Position Sense in Healthy Participants: a Randomised Cross-over Trial'

Conditions
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Knee Joint Position Sense

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Tepid water immersion


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Healthy subjects between the ages of 18 and 40 who complete both a Par-Q test and sign an informed consent form. Exclusion Criteria: Potential subjects who do not complete a Par-Q questionnaire or provide written consent. Subjects with any ankle or knee injuries in the past twelve months. Students who have a recent history of ear or vestibular conditions. Subjects who will not be available to attend all sessions. Subjects who are under the age of 18 or over the age of 40. Subjects who aren't comfortable with being blind-folded or videotaped during testing. Those who are sensitive to cold exposure or show signs of a contraindication to cryotherapy.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 40 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: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Cold water immersion<br>14°C ± 1°C for the cold water immersion for 30 minutes to the level of the umbilicus | Other: Tepid water immersion<br>* 28°C ± 1°C for the cold water immersion for 30 minutes to the level of the umbilicus<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Knee Joint Position Sense |  | 10 minutes pre and 5 minutes post immersion | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Cryotherapy, Joint Position Sense, Proprioception, Pre Cooling, Knee Injury, Physical Therapy Modalities, Physical Therapy Techniques, Weightbearing, NonWeightbearing, Randomised Control Trial