Investigation into the affectivity on cutaneous blood perfusion of different application time lengths of cold hydrotherapy

Introduction

As scientific research into the use of hydrotherapy is scarce and often vague in its recommendation for practical use, this study was designed to test and compare the effects on upper limb blood flow of differing time lengths of short cold hydrotherapy application, with a view to improving the current short duration hydrotherapy application guidelines used in the British College of Osteopathic Medicine clinic. It was proposed that the different time lengths of hydrotherapy application would have a significantly different influence on both ipsilateral and contralateral blood perfusion and skin temperature.

Design

Crossover design, intervention study.

Methods

Intervention: Short duration application of cold hydrotherapy of duration 30s, 1min, 2min, 3min and 5min using cold wraps at 12°C to the dominant forearm.

Participants: Thirty-five asymptomatic, right-hand dominant male subjects.

Outcome Measures: Blood flow and skin temperature measured by the Microflo DSP Digital Laser Perfusion Monitor.

Results

All short duration time lengths of application of cold hydrotherapy had a significant effect on blood perfusion both in the arm to which the hydrotherapy was applied and to the contralateral arm. There was a significant difference in the skin temperature of the arm to which the hydrotherapy was applied but not to the contralateral arm. The results also showed that there was no significant difference in blood perfusion between the differing time lengths of application.

Conclusions

It was concluded therefore that short duration applications of hydrotherapy do have a significant effect on blood perfusion in both the limb to which they are applied and to the contralateral limb. It was also concluded that there was no significant difference between the different time lengths of application thus a 1-min application of cold hydrotherapy overall had a similar effect on blood flow as a 5-min application.

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