TITLE:
Cryotherapy and ankle motion in chronic venous disorders
AUTHORS:
Teresa J. Kelechi, Martina Mueller, Jane G. Zapka, Dana E. King
KEYWORDS:
Cryotherapy; Ankle Range of Motion; Chronic Venous Disorders; Chronic Venous Insufficiency; Venous Refill Time
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Nursing,
Vol.2 No.4,
December
26,
2012
ABSTRACT: This study compared ankle range of motion (AROM) including dorsiflexion, plantar flexion, inversion and eversion, and venous refill time (VRT) in leg skin inflamed by venous disorders, before and after a new cryotherapy ulcer prevention treatment. Fifty-seven individuals participated in the randomized clinical trial; 28 in the experimental group and 29 received usual care only. Results revealed no statistically significant differences between the experimental and usual care groups although AROM measures in the experimental group showed a consistent, non-clinically relevant decrease compared to the usual care group except for dorsiflexion. Within treatment group comparisons of VRT results showed a statistically significant increase in both dorsiflexion and plantar flexion for patients with severe VRT in the experimental group (6.9 ± 6.8; p = 0.002 and 5.8 ± 12.6; p = 0.02, respectively). Cryotherapy did not further restrict already compromised AROM, and in some cases, there were minor improvements.