Hand Cooling With Ice Packs in Healthy Young Men

Summary

This randomized, parallel-group study looked at how a standard 15-minute ice pack applied to the back of the hand affects skin temperature and how cold and comfortable the hand feels, compared with a room-temperature water pack. Healthy young men were randomly assigned to one of the two groups during a single laboratory visit. Skin temperature was measured before, during, and after the application, and participants rated their thermal sensation (how cold/warm they felt) and overall comfort.

The main outcome was the change in hand skin temperature right after the 15-minute application. Additional outcomes included comfort and cold-feeling ratings and how quickly skin temperature returned toward baseline during recovery. This was a minimal-risk study; expected short-term effects included temporary cold, numbness, redness, or mild discomfort. No medicines or invasive procedures were used.

Conditions

• Cold Exposure
• Body Temperature Regulation
• Thermal Comfort Perception

Interventions

OTHER

Ice Pack (Localized Cryotherapy)

Single 15-minute application of a reusable plastic Mueller ice bag (Ø 22.86 cm, 946 mL). The bag was filled with 400 g pre-portioned cylindrical ice and placed on the dorsal side of the dominant hand, \~1 cm proximal to the wrist-joint line, fully covering the fingers. Participants were supine with the treated hand slightly elevated; ambient temperature and humidity were controlled (≈22.5 ± 1.0 °C; 55.3 ± 6.5% RH). Subjective thermal sensation/comfort (and pain) were recorded at minutes 7 and 15 during application. Arm: Experimental - Ice Pack

OTHER

Thermoneutral Water Pack (Control)

Identical 15-minute application using the same Mueller bag, filled with thermoneutral water (within ±0.5 °C of limb skin temperature), mass-matched to 400 g. Placement, posture, room conditions, and timing of subjective assessments (minutes 7 and 15) mirrored the experimental arm: bag on the dorsal side of the dominant hand, \~1 cm proximal to the wrist-joint line, fully covering the fingers; participants supine with the hand slightly elevated. Arm: Active Comparator - Thermoneutral Water Pack.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Poznan University of Physical Education

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Anna Straburzyńska-Lupa, MD, PhD · Department of Physical Therapy and Sports Recovery, Faculty of Health Sciences, Poznan University of Physical Education, 61-871 Poznań, Poland;

• Pawel P Korman, PhD · Department of Physical Therapy and Sports Recovery, Faculty of Health Sciences, Poznan University of Physical Education, 61-871 Poznań, Poland;

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

30 Years

Sex

MALE

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2018-04-12

Primary Completion

2018-07-11

Completion

2018-07-11

Countries

• Poland

Study Locations