RESUMO
CONTEXT: If ankle joint cryotherapy impairs the ability of the ankle musculature to counteract potentially injurious forces, the ankle is left vulnerable to injury. OBJECTIVE: To compare peroneal reaction to sudden inversion following ankle joint cryotherapy. DESIGN: Repeated measures design with independent variables, treatment (cryotherapy and control), and time (baseline, immediately post treatment, 15 minutes post treatment, and 30 minutes post treatment). SETTING: University research laboratory. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-seven healthy volunteers. INTERVENTION(S): An ice bag was secured to the lateral ankle joint for 20 minutes. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The onset and average root mean square amplitude of EMG activity in the peroneal muscles was calculated following the release of a trap door mechanism causing inversion. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant change from baseline for peroneal reaction time or average peroneal muscle activity at any post treatment time. CONCLUSIONS: Cryotherapy does not affect peroneal muscle reaction following sudden inversion perturbation.