Effect of cryotherapy on ankle proprioception and balance in subjects with chronic ankle instability

BACKGROUND: Cryotherapy is a common treatment in sports injury but its effect on proprioception and balance in patients with chronic ankle instability (CAI) is yet unknown. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of cryotherapy on ankle proprioception and dynamic stance balance in the subjects with CAI. METHODS: Thirty-three subjects with CAI participated in this study. A cold pack was applied on anterior-lateral ankle area for 20 minutes. Proprioception and star excursion balance test were performed prior to cryotherapy, immediately after cryotherapy and 30-min after cryotherapy. A two-way ANOVA repeated measure was performed for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The affected ankle showed a significantly greater proprioceptive error than the unaffected ankle (p < 0.05). Immediately after application of cryotherapy proved significantly detrimental to the reaching distance at either baseline or 30-min after (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In subjects with CAI cryotherapy may adversely affect dynamic stance balance particularly when the latter follows immediately the application of the former. Coaches and athletes should be aware of this phenomenon.