The Effect of Cryotherapy to the Knee Joint on Dynamic Postural Stability

Cryotherapy is commonly utilized by clinicians to provide local analgesia for minor acute knee joint musculoskeletal injuries during breaks in play or at half-time. However, its effect on dynamic postural balance is still unclear. Decreased postural balance is a primary risk factor for lower limb injuries.

Researchers from Dublin in Ireland investigated the acute effects of a 15-minute knee joint cryotherapy application on dynamic postural balance.

Twenty-eight elite-level collegiate male field-sport athletes were recruited. Participants were tested on the anterior (ANT), posterior-medial (PM) and posterior-lateral (PL) reach directions of the Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) both pre- and post- a 15-minute knee joint cryotherapy application.

The results showed

• Statistically significant decrease in reach distance scores achieved on ANT, PM and PL directions of the SEBT from pre- to post-cryotherapy.
• None of the decreases in reach distance scores exceeded the reported smallest detectable difference values.
• No significant differences were observed in hip, knee or ankle joint kinematics.
• No significant change in the knee joint kinematic parameter for any reach direction following cryotherapy application.

The authors concluded that this study indicate that dynamic postural balance, is unlikely to be adversely affected immediately following cryotherapy application to the knee joint.