Cold Pack Accelerate Recovery in Functional Parameters Post Ischemia Reperfusion Injury in Skeletal Muscle

Abstract

To determine the effect of a 30-minute application of cold pack in soleus muscle in muscular force and fatigue after 1, 3, and 7 days after subjection to 2 hours of ischemia. An in-vivo experimental study was performed using forty-nine rats were randomly divided into seven groups (control and 1, 3, and 7 days post-ischemia with and without a cold pack). A 2-hour period of ischemia was performed on the lower extremity, followed by a 30-min application of a cold pack. After a one-day reperfusion, the group without and with cold pack application presented reduce on maximal rate of contraction round 40%, on the fatigue time in 51% and on fatigue in repeated contraction in 50% in the first minute. After three days, the group without cold pack presented drop 50% on maximum force and on the maximal rate of contraction and drop 90% in the fatigue in repeated contraction while with cold pack presented recovery in the maximal rate of contraction and the fatigue in repeated contraction in the second minute. After a seven-day reperfusion, the groups without and with cold pack application present recovery in all parameter except in the fatigue time. These results suggest that for ischemia-reperfusion that is produced in surgical situations involving the use of pneumatic tourniquets, the use of cold pack accelerate the recovery in functional parameters post-ischemia.