ryotherapy is commonly administered to relieve musculoskeletal pain for both acute and chronic injuries. 1 Although cold application is often used for inflammation, recent research evidence suggests that the primary benefit of cryotherapy treatment may be decreased pain that results from changes in skin sensation. 2 The beneficial effects of cold on joint function also appear to relate to a sensory effect. 3 Cryotherapy alters cutaneous sensory input to the central nervous system through various mechanisms, including decreased receptor sensitivity, 4 decreased receptor-firing rate, 4 decreased nerve conduction velocity, 5 increased action potential latency, 6 and by providing a counter-irritation effect. 7 Cold treatments are often described as producing a series of sequential sensations, such as cold, burning, aching, and numbness, 8 which may relate to the mechanism of pain modulation.There are numerous methods for therapeutic application of cold, including ice packs, ice massage, and context: Alterations in skin sensations may be responsible for pain reduction provided by cryotherapy, but the exact physiological mechanism is unknown. objective: To investigate perceptions of skin sensations associated with different modes of cryotherapy administration and skin temperature at the point of perceived numbness. Design: Repeated measures. participants: 30 healthy subjects (12 Male, 18 Female, Age = 21.1±1.9 years). interventions: Crushed ice bag, ice massage, and cold water immersion. main outcome measures: Perceptions of sensations during each mode of cryotherapy administration were derived from a Modified McGill Pain Questionnaire. Skin temperature was recorded when numbness was reported for each treatment. results: Participants experienced sensations that included cold, tight, tingling, stinging, and numb. Ice massage sensations transitioned rapidly from cold to numb, whereas cold water immersion and ice bag treatments produced altered sensations for longer duration. Ice massage decreased skin temperature significantly more than the other two modes of cryotherapy administration. conclusions: Ice massage may be the best mode of cryotherapy administration for achievement of anaesthesia as rapidly as possible, whereas cold water immersion and ice bag application may be better for attainment of pain reduction associated with noxious stimulation of skin receptors.
