4 Body Sense
B O D Y T A L K
Icing Muscle Injuries May Delay Recovery
Icing is one of the most common treatments for acute muscle injuries. However, previous
studies on rodents have demonstrated detrimental effects of icing on muscle regeneration
following injury. A new study published in the Journal of Applied Physiology aimed to examine
exactly what factors are involved in the impairment of muscle regeneration from icing.
In the study, muscle damage was induced on mice through electrical stimulation. Ice was
applied to the damaged muscles, on top of the skin, over three 30-minute sessions per day,
with each session two hours apart. The treatment was applied for two days.
After comparing the icing group with a non-icing control group, researchers found that
the ratio of small regenerating fibers to total regenerating fibers was higher in icing-treated
animals than in untreated animals, suggesting that skeletal muscle regeneration may be
delayed as a result of icing.
The authors conclude: "These findings suggest that icing following muscle damage blunts
the efficiency of muscle regeneration . . ."
Read the full study here.
