For Immediate Release For further information,
contact: Lisa Doty, Director of Communications (847) 292-4900 toll free (877) 321-3500 [email protected]
Researchers Explain Why Ice is Nice at the Annual Meeting of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine
June 23, 1999-Rosemont, Illinois-For many years, using ice and compression to treat an injury, or to relieve postsurgery pain has been a standard practice. Several clinical studies have documented the effectiveness of using ice and compression after knee surgery, which decreases narcotic consumption, hospitalization, pain, swelling, inflammation, hematoma formation and drainage while it increases range of motion, compliance, and weight-bearing tolerance of the patient.
According to a study presented Tuesday, June 22 at the Annual Meeting of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, Stephanie Martin, MD and co-researchers at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, have determined that the use of ice after arthroscopic knee surgery decreases the temperature within the knee joint itself.
"This is the first scientific study on human patients that statistically documents a significant decline in internal knee temperature with the application of ice and compression on the skin. We believe that this decrease in temperature is related to the means by which ice achieves its beneficial effect," Dr. Martin said.
The researchers inserted thermocouple probes into the knee joint of 17 patients at the end of surgery and also placed probes on the patients' skin to measure changes in temperature. Twelve patients were given a ice in a compressive dressing immediately after surgery and five patients had the same compressive dressing applied one hour after surgery. Temperatures were recorded for two hours afterward.
In the group treated immediately with ice, the temperature declined significantly in the first hour. That decline continued into the second hour of treatment. In the other group, the temperature actually increased significantly. Once the ice was applied, this group's knee temperature declined in accordance to the first group's, demonstrating that even application of ice later was beneficial.
The American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) is an international medical specialty association of allied health professionals and physicians, primarily orthopaedic surgeons, who have demonstrated a significant and long-term commitment to sports medicine. The AOSSM promotes and supports education and research programs in sports medicine, including those concerned with physical fitness, as well as programs designed to advance our knowledge in the recognition, treatment, rehabilitation and prevention of athletic injuries.
# # #
RSS