Effects of alternating heat and cold stimulation using a wearable thermo-device on subjective and objective shoulder stiffness
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 5217893 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Tomonori Sawada (0000-0001-9750-8828, Keio University, corresponding author), Hiroki Okawara (0000-0002-4211-1759, Keio University), Douglas Nakashima (0000-0003-1105-2669, Keio University), Shuhei Iwabuchi (0000-0003-4865-1833, Keio University), Morio Matsumoto (0000-0001-9791-0139, Keio University), Masaya Nakamura (0000-0001-7916-5497, Keio University), Takeo Nagura (0000-0003-1059-8862, Keio University) |
| Year | 2022 |
| Volume | 41 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 1-1 |
| Publication date | 2022-12-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Journal of PHYSIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1880-6791 • E-ISSN: 1880-6805 |
| Publisher | Springer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1186/s40101-021-00275-9 |
| PMID | 34980256 |
| OpenAlex | W4205482979 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 2 |
| References cited | 40 |
BackgroundTechnological innovations have allowed the use of miniature apparatus that can easily control and program heat and cold stimulations using Peltier elements. The wearable thermo-device has a potential to be applied to conventional contrast bath therapy. This study aimed to examine the effects of alternating heat and cold stimulation (HC) using a wearable thermo-device on subjective and objective improvement of shoulder stiffness.MethodsTwenty healthy young male individuals (20.3 ± 0.6 years) participated in this study. The interventions were randomly conducted under four conditions, including HC, heat stimulation, cold stimulation, and no stimulation on their bilateral trapezius muscle, after a 30-min typing task. Each intervention was administered at least 1 week apart. The analyzed limb was the dominant arm. Muscle hardness was assessed using a portable muscle hardness meter, as well as the skin temperature over the stimulated area. After each condition, the participants were asked for feedback regarding subjective improvement in refreshed feelings, muscle stiffness, and muscle fatigue using an 11-point numerical rating scale.ResultsWith regard to muscle hardness, only the HC condition significantly decreased from 1.43 N to 1.37 N (d= 0.44,p< 0.05). Additionally, reduced muscle hardness in HC condition was associated with the degree of skin cooling during the intervention (cold max:r= 0.634,p< 0.01; cold change:r= −0.548,p< 0.05). Subjective improvement in refreshed feelings, muscle stiffness, and muscle fatigue was determined in the HC and heat stimulation conditions compared with the no stimulation condition (p< 0.01 andp< 0.05, respectively). Moreover, the HC condition showed significantly greater improvements in muscle stiffness and fatigue compared to the cold stimulation condition (p< 0.05).ConclusionsThe current study demonstrated that HC promoted not only better subjective symptoms, such as muscle stiffness and fatigue, but also lesser muscle hardness. Furthermore, an association was observed between the degree of skin temperature cooling and reduced muscle hardness during HC. Further investigations on the ratio and intensity of cooling should be conducted in the future to establish the optimal HC protocol for muscle stiffness or fatigue.Trial registrationUMIN000040620. Registered 1 June 2020
Physical medicine and rehabilitation · Physical therapy · Stimulation · Wearable computer · Acupuncture Treatment Research Studies · Computer Science · Medicine · Myofascial pain diagnosis and treatment · Planarian Biology and Electrostimulation · Biomedical Engineering · Internal Medicine
| Unique citing works | 2 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 1 |
| Citation span | 2024 - 2024 (1) |
| Citation velocity | recent |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 2 |