The effects of cryotherapy on quadriceps electromyographic activity and isometric strength in patient in the early phases following knee surgery

Abstract

To determine the effects of cryotherapy on quadriceps electromyographic (EMG) activity and isometric strength in early postoperative knee surgery patients. Methods: Twenty-two volunteers with recent knee surgeries were included. EMG readings of the vastus medialis (VM), rectus femoris (RF), and vastus lateralis (VL) from the surgical leg were collected during a maximal voluntary quadriceps setting (QS) activity. Maximum isometric knee extension force measurements were also recorded. Subjects were randomly assigned to receive an ice bag or a sham room-temperature bag to the front of their postsurgical knee for 20 min. After treatment, the subjects repeated the above mentioned maximum QS and isometric knee extension force measurements. The subjects returned 24 h later to conduct the same test protocol but received the treatment (ice or sham) not applied during their first test session. Results: A 38% increase in VM EMG activity during QS and a 30% increase in maximum isometric knee extension strength were found after cryotherapy treatment. No significant differences were found in RF or VL EMG activity during QS after cryotherapy. No significant differences were found in any measurements after the sham treatment. Conclusion: Clinicians should consider applying ice to knee joints prior to exercise for patients following knee surgery with inhibited quadriceps.

Effects of Focal Knee Joint Cooling on Static and Dynamic Strength of the Quadriceps: Innovative Approach to Muscle Conditioning

“…The purpose of the current study was to determine static (isometric) and dynamic (isokinetic) quadriceps strength following FKJC. If we found the expected improvements during isometric contraction that were consistently documented in the literature [20][21][22], the improvement would translate to isokinetic (dynamic) strength because of ice-induced mechanical changes [26] and/or neuromuscular facilitations [25,28]. We hypothesized that FKJC would significantly improve both isometric and isokinetic quadriceps strength as measured by peak torque output.…”

Adaptive changes in muscle activity after cryotherapy treatment: Potential mechanism for improvement the functional state in patients with multiple sclerosis

“…Literature data demonstrated the stimulus effect of low temperature on the bioelectrical activity of the muscle as assessed by sEMG. It was for example demonstrated that change in skin temperature changed the EMG signal without any change in muscle activity in healthy volunteers (Winkel & Jørgensen, 1991) (Holewijn & Heus, 1992) The influence of low temperature on sEMG signal was assessed for different forms of exposure: cold climate chamber (temperature 14 • C) (Winkel & Jørgensen, 1991), local and whole body cooling (15 • C water) (Holewijn & Heus, 1992) (Solianik et al, 2015) (Piedrahita et al, 2009), ice bag (Loro et al, 2019) (Akehi et al, 2016), localized air-pulsed cryotherapy (-30 • C), (Gilhem et al, 2013), and WBC (Westerlund et al, 2009).…”

“…It is reported that cooling superficial tissues roughly doubles the sEMG amplitude, for example in healthy volunteers (Winkel & Jørgensen, 1991), and patients with symptoms of spasticity (Harlaar et al, 2001) as well as in patients in the early phases following knee surgery (Loro et al, 2019). It is known that tempera- Asmussen et al, 1976).…”

“…1.75 (0.27-14.12) 1.94 (0.31-22.28) p = 0.49 p = 0.18 p = 0. (Holewijn & Heus, 1992) (Loro et al, 2019) (Akehi et al, 2016).…”

“…Correlation between HGS value and value of delta A RMS (VC -rest) dominant hand, before (T 0 ) and after (T 1 ) WBC treatments in patients with MS.in healthy participants, but in the literature there is408 no information about the effect on muscle activity 409 in patients with MS. sEMG is one of the methods 410 of neurophysiological assessment of the efficiency 411 of motor units of the skeletal muscles, and records 412 even the smallest changes in muscle activity, allow-413 ing us to also detect changes in response to stimulus 414 exposures (Del Vecchio et al, 2017) (Scott et al, 415 2011) (Giemza et al, 2014). sEMG was previously 416 used to assess potential changes in muscle activity 417 after exposure of different types of physical stim-418 uli (neuromuscular electrical stimulation, low-level laser therapy, radial shock wave therapy) (Dymarek et al, 2016) (De Oliveira Melo et al, 2016) as well as to assess the impact of low temperatures (Winkel & Jørgensen, 1991)(Holewijn & Heus, 1992) (Solianik et al, 2015 (Piedrahita et al, 2009) (Loro et al, 2019) (Akehi et al, 2016) (Gilhem et al, 2013).The amplitude values obtained in the mathematical analysis of electromyograms parameterize the level of muscle excitation as well as the efficiency of the motor units that form it(Del Vecchio et al, 2017). It has been shown that the achieved A RMS values of exercise electromyograms depend on the…”