The Effect of Infrared to Cold Pain in Cold-jet Stream Application at the Knee

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy of infrared for lengthening applying time of cold-jet stream therapy without cold pain. METHOD: Each of the two methods of cryotherapy, cold-jet stream (CS) and cold-jet stream combined with infrared therapy (CSCI), was applied to the medial aspect of 32 volunteers' knees. The first phase was the required time that skin was dropped to 10oC with CS/CSCI. The second phase was the time for rewarming to 20oC without CS/CSCI. The third phase was the required time that skin dropped to 10degrees C again with CS/CSCI. The fourth phase was the time for re-warming to 20oC again without CS/CSCI. RESULTS: The required time which cold pain appeared after CS/CSCI were 51.3 sec and 62.3 sec, respectively, with significance (p<0.01). In CS and CSCI, first phase was 71.6 sec and 90.7 sec, respectively, and third phase was 33.2 sec and 39.9 sec, respectively (p<0.01). At second and fourth phases, it took 46.9 sec and 56.6 sec in CS (p<0.01), and took 46.9 sec and 54.6 sec in CSCI (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: As compared with CS, CSCI delayed sensation time of cold pain and prolonged application time of CS at the knee.