Where did the word cryotherapy come from?
Cryos (greek)
What are some consideration for cryotherapy?
Apply directly to skin
Heat transfer is always hot to cold
What are the effects of cold on injury response process?
Decreased metabolic rate
Decreased secondary hypoxic injury
Decreased inflammatory mediators
Decreased inflammatory response
What are the five cardinal signs of swelling
Rubor
Tumor
Calor
Dolor
Function laesa
Means decrease redness
Rubor
Means decrease in swelling
Tumor
Means decrease in heat
Calor
Means decrease in pain
Dolor
Means function loss
Function laesa
What is the function of muscle spasm?
Reduce sensitivity of ms spindle
Decrease pain
Decreased ability for rapid movements due to clotting
A sensitive for cryotherapy
Spine
What are the effects of inflammation?
Reduces the release of inflammatory mediators
Decreasing capillary permeability
Decreasing prostaglandin mediator
Influences the duration and severity of inflammation
Describe the gate control theory
sensory fibers, pain transmit from periphery to brain in the thalamus, type c nf sends the signal. Put other stimulus in area even if the nf sends info. the in charge sensory receptor of periphery [Type A beta/cross and bulbs] decrease receive of info from type c)
Slows communication
Nerve conduction velocity
Sensation patient should feel during cryotherapy
- cold
- burning
- aching
- numbness
What are the indications for cold application?
- Inflammation
- Ms spasm (trigger points)
- Joint dysfunction
- Post exercise (post-ice after intervention or exercise)
- Pain
- Reduction of spasticity (e.g wrist; ecrl agonist extensors) (elbow; triceps)
- Facilitation of motor response (intact blood vessels)
- Acute burns
What are the precautions for cold application
- superficial nerves (periphery no direct ice due to poor circulation
- Circulation insufficiency (decreased flow)
- Diminished sensation
- Cold allergies (sensitive to cold, skin irritation)
- Raynaud’s phenomenon (cold tolerance)
Before applying cryotherapy, you must…
- inspect px skin
- Test small skin to test px is hypersensitive to cold (itchy)
- Test for circulation
- Check for any frostbite
- Ask patient for aggravation of spasticity with previous cold application
- Position and drape the px properly
What are the forms of treatment in cryotherapy?
Ice massage
Chemical cold packs
Ice towels
Ice packs
Vapocolant spray
Quick icing
It is generally used to anesthetize the skin
Ice massage
What are the three way to perform ice massage?
- [ ] Ice that has been frozen in an insulated cup
- [ ] A lollipop
- [ ] Ice cube wrapped in towel
Duration for ice massage
3 to 10 minutes
Give me some advantages of ice massage
- Anesthetizes can perform deep friction massge
- Colder than the chemical cold packs (direct application)
- Small areas can be treated
- Ice are readily available
Disadvantages of ice massage
- drips of cold water that can cause discomfort to px (ready a towel)
- Therapist hands must be protected from insulation of the cup or towel
- Ice may cause frostbite, if skin turns blue the ice should be removed immediately
