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Comparison of the effects of ice and 3.5% menthol gel on blood flow and muscle strength of the lower arm.

Abstract

CONTEXT
Soft-tissue injuries are commonly treated with ice or menthol gels. Few studies have compared the effects of these treatments on blood flow and muscle strength.
OBJECTIVE
To compare blood flow and muscle strength in the forearm after an application of ice or menthol gel or no treatment.
DESIGN
Repeated measures design in which blood-flow and muscle-strength data were collected from subjects under 3 treatment conditions.
SETTING
Exercise physiology laboratory.
PARTICIPANTS
17 healthy adults with no impediment to the blood flow or strength in their right arm, recruited through word of mouth.
INTERVENTION
Three separate treatment conditions were randomly applied topically to the right forearm: no treatment, 0.5 kg of ice, or 3.5 mL of 3.5% menthol gel. To avoid injury ice was only applied for 20 min.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
At each data-collection session blood flow (mL/min) of the right radial artery was determined at baseline before any treatment and then at 5, 10, 15, and 20 min after treatment using Doppler ultrasound. Muscle strength was assessed as maximum isokinetic flexion and extension of the wrist at 30°/s 20, 25, and 30 min after treatment.
RESULTS
The menthol gel reduced (-42%, P < .05) blood flow in the radial artery 5 min after application but not at 10, 15, or 20 min after application. Ice reduced (-48%, P < .05) blood flow in the radial artery only after 20 min of application. After 15 min of the control condition blood flow increased (83%, P < .05) from baseline measures. After the removal of ice, wrist-extension strength did not increase per repeated strength assessment as it did during the control condition (9-11%, P < .05) and menthol-gel intervention (8%, P < .05).
CONCLUSIONS
Menthol has a fast-acting, short-lived effect of reducing blood flow. Ice reduces blood flow after a prolonged duration. Muscle strength appears to be inhibited after ice application.

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  • Aggregator Full Text

    • Authors

    Topp R, Winchester L, Mink AM, Kaufman JS, Jacks DE

    Institution

    Dept of Exercise Physiology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA.

    Source

    Journal of sport rehabilitation 20:3 2011 Aug pg 355-66

    MeSH

    Adult
    Analysis of Variance
    Blood Flow Velocity
    Cryotherapy
    Female
    Forearm
    Gels
    Humans
    Male
    Menthol
    Muscle Strength
    Radial Artery
    Soft Tissue Injuries
    Time Factors
    Ultrasonography, Doppler
    Young Adult

    Pub Type(s)

    Journal Article
    Randomized Controlled Trial

    Language

    eng

    PubMed ID

    21828387