ABSTRACT:
Background and Purpose: Cold is an
often used modality in and out of the clinic. However, little is known
about how it affects peak isokinetic muscle strength in the quadriceps
muscle. Subjects: Subjects were college aged males and females who
were between the ages of 18 and 26. Subjects were volunteers. there were
33 subjects in the control group and 34 subjects in the experimental group.
Methods: Subjects had their right quadriceps muscle strength tested
on a Biodex Isokinetic Dynamometer. The control group received a room temperature
pack treatment for 15 minutes. Subjects were then tested for isokinetic
strength in the quadriceps muscle. A t-test was used to determine whether
a significant difference was found between the two groups. Also, an ANOVA
was used to determine whether a significant difference was found between
the two groups and genders. Results: No significant difference was
found between the groups at the .05 significance level for the measures
of peak torque and peak torque divided by body weight. However, the results
for peak torque were close to the significance level.
Conclusion:
The effects of cold in the study produced no significant difference in
peak torque of the quadriceps muscle during isokinetic testing.