Contrast-Bath Therapy and Sensation Over the Anterior Talofibular Ligament

Context: It has been suggested that contrast-bath therapy alters sensation and enables patients to return to exercise more quickly. Objective: To determine whether contrast-bath therapy alters sensation of pressure in the ankle. Design: A 2 4 4 factorial design with repeated measures on 2 factors. Independent variables included gender, time (preapplication and 1, 6, and 11 min postapplication), and treatment (control, cold bath, hot bath, and contrast bath). Setting: Laboratory. Participants: 12 men and 12 women, college track athletes actively engaged in preseason workouts 5–6 days/wk. Interventions: Sensation of pressure was tested preapplication and 1, 6, and 11 min postapplication. Each treatment lasted 20 min. Main Outcome Measure: Sensation of pressure at baseline and 1, 6, and 11 min postapplication over the anterior talofibular ligament of the right ankle. Results: There was no difference between genders. Sensation of pressure was greater for the heat condition than the other 3 conditions at 1 and 6 min postapplication. During the heating condition, sensation of pressure was greater at 1 and 6 min postapplication than during preapplication. During the contrast condition, sensation of pressure was less at 6 min postapplication than during preapplication. Conclusion: Contrastand coldbath therapy (at 13 °C) do not affect numbness.