Dynamic balance response to the effects of cryotherapy applied to the knee: clinical trial on the occurrence of deleterious effects on function

• Grant number: 22/05051-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2022
• End date: March 31, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy
• Principal Investigator: Carlos Marcelo Pastre
• Grantee: Michael Lopes Siqueira
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia (FCT). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Presidente Prudente. Presidente Prudente , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The knee represents the second most affected region by injuries in sports. In this sense, cryotherapy is a therapeutic resource widely used in clinical practice with the purpose of treatment, however, possible deleterious effects on function are hypothesized. Objectives: the aim of this study is to evaluate the knee function of healthy individuals immediately and 25 minutes after a 20 minutes cryotherapy protocol and to explore its effects on skin surface temperature, thermal comfort, and perception of performance during the test. Methods: 80 community volunteers. Participants will be randomized and included in both the intervention group, which will receive a cryotherapy protocol using thermogel bags positioned on the knee joint by bandaging, and control, which will remain seated at rest, in different orders, avoiding possible learning biases. The intervention group will receive: I) evaluation; II) 20 minutes of the cryotherapy protocol; III) reassessment; IV) 20 minutes of rest; V) reassessment. The control group will receive: I) evaluation; II) 20 minutes of rest; III) reassessment; IV) 20 minutes of rest; V) reassessment. During the evaluations, data will be collected on skin surface temperature, thermal comfort, dynamic balance of the dominant lower limb, and perception of balance. The data will be described by means of mean and standard deviation. Data normality will be evaluated using the Shapiro-Wilk test. The comparison of the outcomes between the groups will be performed by means of repeated measures ANOVA with two factors (time and group) with Bonferroni post-tests, and correlations will be explored by Pearson's or Spearman's test according to the data distribution. Statistical analysis will be conducted in SPSS software (version 18; SPSS Inc. Chicago, IL, USA). All analyses will assume a significance level of 0.05. (AU)