The effect of immersion cryotherapy on medial‐lateral postural sway variability in individuals with a lateral ankle sprain

Background and Purpose . Postural stability has been shown to be impaired after a lateral ankle sprain (LAS) and after immersion cryotherapy in healthy ankles. This study was performed to determine the effects of cryotherapy on postural stability after LAS. Method . A single‐session, repeated measures design was used. Fifteen 18‐ to 29‐year‐old males (mean age 21.33 ± 3.54, height 71.23 ± 2.50 cm, mass 170.33 ± 19.77 kg) with relatively recent grade I LAS volunteered. Medial‐lateral postural sway variability was assessed during single‐leg barefoot stance using a Bertec force platform. Sway was tested before cryotherapy (‘Pre’), immediately after 20 minutes of lower‐leg immersion cryotherapy (‘Post₀’), and 10 and 20 minutes after cryotherapy (‘Post₁₀’ and ‘Post₂₀’). Both legs were tested (individually) before cryotherapy; the involved leg was tested alone after cryotherapy. The uninvolved leg served as a control. Results . Postural sway variability of the involved le was significantly greater than the uninvolved le before cryotherapy (p = 0.001). Postural sway variability of the involved le was also significantly greater than the uninvolved LE during Post₀ (p = 0.000), Post₁₀ (p = 0.000) and Post₂₀ testing (p = 0.003) with the largest increase in sway variability occurring at Post₀. Conclusions . Medial‐lateral postural sway variability was greater after LAS. This effect was augmented by immersion cryotherapy. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.