Effect of cold air therapy in relieving spasticity: Applied to spinalized rabbits

Abstract

Study design: Before-After trial measured prior to cold air therapy, immediately following, after 30 and 60 min. Objective: To determine the effect of cold air therapy in relieving spasticity, the optimal intramuscular temperature, and the duration of spasticity relief attained by cold air therapy. Setting: Clinical research laboratory, Seoul, Korea. Subject: Forty-six spastic paraplegic rabbits with spinal cord injury. Methods: Spastic paraplegia was induced by transection of spinal cord in 46 rabbits. Cold air was applied to triceps surae muscles for 30 min at three different intramuscular temperatures (25, 30 and 32.5°C). Clinical parameters of spasticity (muscle tone, Babinski's sign, muscle stretch reflex and ankle clonus) and electrophysiologic parameters (F/M ratio and H/M ratio) were measured immediately following, after 30 and 60 min. Results: In the 32.5°C group, relief in spasticity lasted less than 30 min. In the 30 and 25°C groups, the decrease in spasticity lasted for at least 30 min clinically. The spasticity relief was observed only immediately following treatment when measured electrophysiologically. However, six out of 16 cases (37.5%) in the 25°C group showed complete motor conduction block. Conclusion: To relieve spasticity with cold air therapy, the intramuscular temperature should be maintained at 30°C. The duration of spasticity relief lasted from between 30-60 min after cold air therapy. We certify that all applicable institutional and governmental regulations concerning the ethical use of animals were followed during the course of this research.