Different Cryocompression Devices and Skin Temperature of the Knee

Summary

Cryotherapy after surgery is widely utilised and has numerous practical applications for post-operative rehabilitation. Previous research has suggested that during cold therapy, the skin temperature of the knee should be reduced to 10-15°C to maximise the therapeutic benefits of cooling while avoiding the risk of cold injuries such as nerve damage and frostbite (Wilke and Weiner, 2003; Bleakley, McDonough and MacAuley, 2004). However, a recent study noted that where cryocompression devices have previously been used to reduce the skin temperature \<10°C, no complications relating to the device have been reported, suggesting that the risk to the user at these lower temperatures is minimal (Bellon et al., 2019). The temperature range at which a cryocompression device should be set in order to achieve a skin temperature within the therapeutic range of 10-15°C is unknown. Furthermore, there is evidence to suggest that the temperature setting of the device does not equal that to which the skin is reduced (Selfe et al., 2009). Therefore, it is not sufficient to assume that the temperature setting of a cryocompression device accurately reflects skin temperature. Modern cryotherapy devices often consist of some sort of cuff that can be wrapped around the knee, with a connecting tube to a central unit that supplies and circulates ice-water to and from the cuff in order to cool the intended body part. Such devices offer differing levels of control over the temperature of the ice-water as it leaves the central unit, but nothing is known about how this correlates to the skin temperatures that are achieved during a cryotherapy treatment.

The aim of this study is to determine the ability of five different cryocompression.devices to effectively lower the skin temperature of the treatment area to within the therapeutic range.

Conditions

• Temperature Change, Body

Interventions

DEVICE

Physiolab S1

A cryocompression device capable of circulating ice-water through a cuff at 6-12℃ with either a static pressure of 25mmHg or dynamic pressure of 25-50 mmHg or 25-75mmHg. The lowest temperature setting, and highest pressure setting will be used for this study.

DEVICE

Breg Vpulse

A cryocompression device capable of circulating ice-water through a cuff at no lower than 5.5℃ with a dynamic peak pressure of 50 mmHg. The temperature of the ice-water, and the applied pressure, is not modifiable by the user.

DEVICE

Aircast Cryo/Cuff

A cryocompression device capable of circulating ice-water through a cuff at an undefined, non-modifiable temperature with a static pressure that is also undefined and non-modifiable. The device will be applied as per the manufacturer's instructions, which will represent its maximum capability.

DEVICE

GameReady

A cryocompression device capable of circulating ice-water through a cuff at 1-12℃ with a dynamic pressure of 5-15 mmHg, 5-50 mmHg, or 5-75 mmHg. The lowest temperature setting, and highest pressure setting will be used for this study.

DEVICE

Physiolab Gel Therapy Wrap

A cryocompression cuff that applies an undefined, non-modifiable temperature with a static pressure that is also undefined and non-modifiable. The device will be applied as per the manufacturer's instructions, which will represent its maximum capability.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Physiolab Technologies Ltd

  collaborator INDUSTRY

• University of Winchester

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• James Faulkner, PhD · University of Winchester

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

CROSSOVER

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2022-04-20

Primary Completion

2022-07-27

Completion

2022-07-27

FDA Device

Yes

Countries

• United Kingdom

Study Locations