Effect of Salted Ice Bags on Surface and Intramuscular Tissue Cooling and Rewarming Rates

Abstract

Wetted- and salted-cubed-ice bags were equally effective at decreasing intramuscular temperature at 2 cm subadipose. Clinical practicality may favor salted-ice bags over wetted-ice bags.

Examination of Intramuscular and Skin Temperature Decreases Produced by the PowerPlay Intermittent Compression Cryotherapy

“…However, skin temperature is highly variable and is further influenced by the presence of a barrier and the addition of external compression. Correlations in this study as well as previous studies 12,19,27 have demonstrated no correlation between skin and muscle temperatures, indicating that skin temperatures cannot be utilized to approximate muscle temperature decreases.…”

“…11 Another study has found salted ice bags (2000mL cubed ice + ½ tbsp salt) to be equivalent to wetted ice at decreasing intramuscular temperature. 12 The PP-ice in our study decreased intramuscular temperature (2cm depth) 4.8°C. Previous research has found a wet ice (parameters not provided) wrapped with 45mmHg of elastic compression to decrease 4.46C (2cm depth) during a 30-minute treatment.…”

“…10 Other studies using wetted ice (2000mL water + 300mL cubed ice) with no external compression found intramuscular temperature (2cm depth) to decrease 4.7-4.8C. 11,12 Across these studies, it would appear that wetted ice can consistently decrease intramuscular temperature 4.5-4.8C, and that external compression likely increases the magnitude "Examination of Intramuscular and Skin Temperature Decreases Produced by the PowerPlay Intermittent Compression Cryotherapy" by Ostrowski J Journal of Sport Rehabilitation © 2017 Human Kinetics, Inc. of cooling. Previous research using the PP-ice indicates it is capable of producing equivalent intramuscular temperature decreases as salted ice bags and GameReady.…”

“…Previous research has found decreases with wetted ice ranging from 12-25C. [10][11][12] It has been suggested that for every 1°C decrease in skin temperature, nerve conduction velocity decreases by approximately 0.4 m/sec. 26 Given the 3.5-times greater decrease in skin temperature with PP-ice versus PP-gel, it can be assumed that PPice is better able to decrease nerve conduction velocity and induce localized analgesia.…”

“…6 Unlike thermotherapy, the therapeutic range for cooling is unknown; therefore it is generally assumed that greater localized temperature decreases provide greater therapeutic benefit. [10][11][12][13][14] The acronym RICES (rest, ice, compression, elevation, stabilization) is often suggested as treatment during the immediate care phase. In this acronym, the compression suggested is constant compression, such an elastic bandage, which has been shown to increase contact quality of the ice on the tissue and enhance the amount of heat withdrawn from the body.…”