Type of Document	Dissertation
Author	Arguello, Eric
URN	etd-11032009-163428
Title	The Effects of Focal Cooling on Dynamic Neuromuscular Control and Knee Biomechanics
Degree	Doctor of Philosophy
Department	Nutrition, Food, and Exercise Science, Department of
Advisory Committee	Advisor Name Title Emily Haymes Committee Chair Lynn Panton Committee Member Susan Lynn University Representative
Keywords	Cooling Knee Balance Laxity
Date of Defense	2009-10-29
Availability	unrestricted
Abstract Objective: To determine whether focal knee cooling attenuates dynamic postural stability or decreases knee laxity and hamstring flexibility as compared to a room temperature trial. Design: Single-group, pretest-posttest control session design. Setting: University exercise physiology laboratory. Participants: Fourteen healthy college students (24 ± 3 years old). Intervention: Twenty-minute 5°C cooling pad application to the knee vs. room temperature (no cooling). Main Outcome Measures: Postural stability, anterior knee laxity and hamstring flexibility were measured before, immediately after and 20 minutes after either no cooling or a cooling pad application for 20 minutes. Skin temperature (lateral knee joint line) and subcutaneous temperature (medial knee joint line) were recorded every 5 minutes for the entire 20-minute treatment and for the 20-minute period following application. Results: Mean medial-lateral deflection (frontal plane position) measurement of postural stability increased immediately following cooling from .60 ± .59 to .93 ± .80. Anterior knee laxity decreased immediately following cooling from 8.40 ± .79 to 7.48 ± .78 mm. These differences were no longer evident following 20 minutes of rewarming at room temperature. Hamstring flexibility did not change with cooling. Skin temperatures decreased with cooling from 30.34 ± .89 to 18.26 ± 2.28°C and remained lower (24.99 ± .93°C) following 20 minutes of rewarming. Subcutaneous temperatures decreased with cooling from 28.40 ± 1.41 to 16.13 ± 2.59°C and remained lower (21.94 ± 1.38°C) following 20 minutes of rewarming. Conclusion: Application of a cooling pad to the knee attenuates or alters dynamic neuromuscular control in the frontal plane and decreases knee compliance immediately following the application. Cold treatment is commonly used following acute injury in sport and exercise. Alterations in the dynamic joint stability and biomechanic properties of the knee with cooling may increase the risk of injury if exercise or sport is resumed immediately following cold treatment.
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