Cryotherapy Reduces Muscle Spasticity But Does Not Affect Proprioception in Ischemic Stroke: A Randomized Sham-Controlled Crossover Study.

Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the immediate effects of cryotherapy (using an ice pack) on ankle joint position sense and the degree of spasticity after chronic hemiparetic stroke.

Design: We used a sham-controlled crossover design. Sixteen chronic hemiparetic patients were randomly assigned to two groups: (1) those who received cryotherapy followed by a control intervention 15 days later (cryotherapy group) and (2) those who received the control intervention followed by cryotherapy 15 days later (control intervention group). Ankle joint position sense was measured on the paretic side using a Biodex Multi-joint System 3 dynamometer before and after 20 mins of either application on the calf muscles. Lower absolute error scores were calculated for data analyses and were used to determine joint position sense. The degree of spasticity of the plantar flexor muscles was scored according to the Modified Ashworth Scale.

Results: Sixteen patients completed the crossover experiment; however, data analysis was successfully conducted in 15 participants. Cryotherapy reduced the degree of spasticity of the plantar flexor muscles without altering ankle joint position sense.

Conclusions: Cryotherapy (using an ice pack) may reduce plantar flexor spasticity without influencing proprioception.