Comparison Between Heat and Cold in Basic Excitatory Responses in Healthy Subjects

  R. Hedayati MSc [1] , M . Salavati PhD [2] , P Ghadiri MSc [3]

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  Background and Objective: Heat and Cold are among the most important and effective methods in rehabilitation of neuromusculoskeletal disorders. However there has been a controversy concerning the physiological and clinical effects of heat and cold. In this article, the physiological effects of heat and cold have been assessed. Furthermore, the effect of these modalities on electrical stimulation thresholds has been studied.

  Materials and Methods: This research that is a quasi-experimental study, has been performed on 30 healthy male and female students aged 20-30. After changing the skin temperature to 20 and 44^oC by ice and hot packs respectively, all 4 stimulation thresholds (sensory, motor, pain and max pain) were recorded by the use of electrical stimulation.

  Results: The present research indicated that heat modalities had no effect on stimulation thresholds but the cold caused a considerable increase in all of the electrical thresholds and the effect sustained for moments after removing cold modality.

  Conclusion: Cold modalities change stimulation thresholds and in this regard they can be considered as effective ways for treating musculoskeletal disorders.

  Key words: Sensory Threshold, Motor Threshold, Pain Threshold, Electrical Stimulation, Neuromuscular Junction.

  [1] - Academic Member, Dept. of Rehabilation

  (Corresponding author) Tel: : (021) 2516494 , Fax:(021) 2400110 , E-mail: rozhed@yahoo.com

  [2] - Assistant Professor, Dept. of Rehabilation

  [3] - Academic Member, Dept. of Rehabilation