The goal of this study was to investigate the persistence of cold-induced vasoconstriction following cessation of active skin-surface cooling. This study demonstrates a hysteresis effect that develops between skin temperature and blood perfusion during the cooling and subsequent rewarming period. An Arctic Ice cryotherapy unit (CTU) was applied to the knee region of six healthy subjects for 60 min of active cooling followed by 120 min of passive rewarming. Multiple laser Doppler flowmetry perfusion probes were used to measure skin blood flow (expressed as cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC)). Skin surface cooling produced a significant reduction in CVC (P < 0.001) that persisted throughout the duration of the rewarming period. In addition, there was a hysteresis effect between CVC and skin temperature during the cooling and subsequent rewarming cycle (P < 0.01). Mixed model regression (MMR) showed a significant difference in the slopes of the CVC–skin temperature curves during cooling and rewarming (P < 0.001). Piecewise regression was used to investigate the temperature thresholds for acceleration of CVC during the cooling and rewarming periods. The two thresholds were shown to be significantly different (P = 0.003). The results show that localized cooling causes significant vasoconstriction that continues beyond the active cooling period despite skin temperatures returning toward baseline values. The significant and persistent reduction in skin perfusion may contribute to nonfreezing cold injury (NFCI) associated with cryotherapy.
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March 2016
Research-Article
Cryotherapy-Induced Persistent Vasoconstriction After Cutaneous Cooling: Hysteresis Between Skin Temperature and Blood Perfusion
Sepideh Khoshnevis,
Sepideh Khoshnevis
Bioheat Transfer Laboratory,
Biomedical Engineering Department,
The University of Texas at Austin,
Austin, TX 78712
e-mail: Sepideh@utexas.edu
Biomedical Engineering Department,
The University of Texas at Austin,
Austin, TX 78712
e-mail: Sepideh@utexas.edu
Search for other works by this author on:
Natalie K. Craik,
Natalie K. Craik
Bioheat Transfer Laboratory,
Biomedical Engineering Department,
The University of Texas at Austin,
Austin, TX 78712
Biomedical Engineering Department,
The University of Texas at Austin,
Austin, TX 78712
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R. Matthew Brothers,
R. Matthew Brothers
Environmental and Autonomic
Physiology Laboratory,
Department of Kinesiology and
Health Education,
The University of Texas at Austin,
Austin, TX 78712
Physiology Laboratory,
Department of Kinesiology and
Health Education,
The University of Texas at Austin,
Austin, TX 78712
Search for other works by this author on:
Kenneth R. Diller
Kenneth R. Diller
Bioheat Transfer Laboratory,
Biomedical Engineering Department,
The University of Texas at Austin,
Austin, TX 78712
Biomedical Engineering Department,
The University of Texas at Austin,
Austin, TX 78712
Search for other works by this author on:
Sepideh Khoshnevis
Bioheat Transfer Laboratory,
Biomedical Engineering Department,
The University of Texas at Austin,
Austin, TX 78712
e-mail: Sepideh@utexas.edu
Biomedical Engineering Department,
The University of Texas at Austin,
Austin, TX 78712
e-mail: Sepideh@utexas.edu
Natalie K. Craik
Bioheat Transfer Laboratory,
Biomedical Engineering Department,
The University of Texas at Austin,
Austin, TX 78712
Biomedical Engineering Department,
The University of Texas at Austin,
Austin, TX 78712
R. Matthew Brothers
Environmental and Autonomic
Physiology Laboratory,
Department of Kinesiology and
Health Education,
The University of Texas at Austin,
Austin, TX 78712
Physiology Laboratory,
Department of Kinesiology and
Health Education,
The University of Texas at Austin,
Austin, TX 78712
Kenneth R. Diller
Bioheat Transfer Laboratory,
Biomedical Engineering Department,
The University of Texas at Austin,
Austin, TX 78712
Biomedical Engineering Department,
The University of Texas at Austin,
Austin, TX 78712
1Corresponding author.
2Current affiliation: Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030.
3Current affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Kinesiology, University of Texas at Arlington, 701 S Nedderman Dr, Arlington, TX 76019.
Manuscript received September 2, 2015; final manuscript received November 20, 2015; published online January 29, 2016. Assoc. Editor: Ram Devireddy.
J Biomech Eng. Mar 2016, 138(3): 031004 (8 pages)
Published Online: January 29, 2016
Article history
Received:
September 2, 2015
Revised:
November 20, 2015
Citation
Khoshnevis, S., Craik, N. K., Matthew Brothers, R., and Diller, K. R. (January 29, 2016). "Cryotherapy-Induced Persistent Vasoconstriction After Cutaneous Cooling: Hysteresis Between Skin Temperature and Blood Perfusion." ASME. J Biomech Eng. March 2016; 138(3): 031004. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4032126
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