Effects of Prior Physical Activity on Skin Surface Temperature Response of the Ankle During and After a 30-minute Ice Pack Application.

The effects of various durations of treadmill running on ankle skin temperature response during and following ice application were investigated. We measured the ankle skin surface temperature of 12 male subjects with a telethermister (YSI Model 44) during each of three conditions: control and two exercise conditions that involved treadmill running for 15 or 30 minutes, followed by a 30-minute ice pack application and 90 minutes rewarming. The control condition involved no exercise prior to ice pack application. Ankle skin temperature increased significantly during 15 and 30 minutes of exercise, although the temperature difference between the two conditions was not statistically significant. Mean skin cooling temperatures were slightly, though not significantly, higher following exercise than following no exercise. The rate of cooling, however, was unaffected by prior exercise. Mean skin temperatures during rewarming were significantly higher following the exercise conditions, but the rate of rewarming was unchanged by exercise. Mean rewarming temperatures were higher in the 30-minute exercise condition than in the 15-minute exercise condition. Longer ice applications or shorter reapplications may be necessary following exercise of at least 15 minutes, but further investigation is necessary to substantiate this supposition.