Efeito imediato da imersão em gelo na força de preensão palmar

Abstract

Background: Cryotherapy is defined as cooling or decreased tissue temperature for therapeutic purposes, the physiological effects of a cold is a decrease in nerve conduction velocity, the hydraulic dynamometer is a device commonly used to evaluate the decrease in hand grip strength , the hand grip strength is the measurement of maximum voluntary force of handgrip. This study aimed to evaluate the immediate effect of immersion in ice in the reduction of hand grip strength. Materials and methods: This is a cross-sectional study was performed to test the hand grip strength using the Jamar® dynamometer, bilaterally in the pre-intervention, was carried out after immersion of the upper limb in a bucket with ice and water at a approximate temperature of 5 º C for 20 seconds, then media was carried out post-test three consecutive times and bilaterally alternating. Results: The sample consisted of 30 volunteers, 15 men and 15 women, mean age 34.03 ± 10.81 years. There was a statistically significant difference between the values of pre-test (27.56 ± 12.08 kg / f) and post-test (22.47 ± 11.28 kg / f) of the left hand, and between the values pre -test (30.41 ± 11.17 kg / f) and post-test (24.71 ± 11.40 kg / f) of the right hand. Discussion: The immersion in ice was effective in decreasing handgrip strength, a significant reduction in the strength of pre-intervention compared to post-intervention. It follows that the immersion in ice for 20 seconds at a temperature of 5 ° C, significantly decreases the strength of grip.