Effects of cold application on isometric strength and endurance of quadriceps femoris muscle

Abstract

This study was earned out to investigate the effect of cold therapy on isometric strength and endurance of the quadriceps femoris muscle group. Sixty volunteer healthy normal subjects participated in the study, 30 were males and 30 were females. They were aged between 20 and 27 years. The subjects were screened for previous knee injuries or abnormalities through history taking and physical examination. The baseline isometric strength and endurance of the quadriceps was tested before application of cold on the thigh. Immediate post and 10-minute post cold application isometric strength and endurance were measured using an adapted cable tensiometer. The result of the study showed that cold increased the isometric strength of the quadriceps in all the subjects immediate post and 10-minute post cold application (P < 0.05) and the immediate post cooling endurance index of male and combined male and female subjects (P < 0 05). No significant increase was seen in the immediate post cooling endurance for female subjects (P > 0.05). Also, no significant difference was seen in 10-minute post cooling endurance of all the subjects when compared with the pre-cooling endurance. This study therefore concluded that cold application increased isometric muscle strength and endurance post cold application. It was therefore recommended that application of cold on muscle should be employed while rehabilitating an individual with musculoskeletal pathology or deficit particularly while training for muscle endurance, strength and restoration of muscle function.