Acute Effects of Knee Cryotherapy on Proprioception, Agility, and Hop Performance in Amateur Cricket Players

Abstract

Introduction: Cryotherapy is widely used in sports medicine for pain relief and recovery; however,
its immediate effects on proprioception and functional performance remain controversial. In cricket,
optimal knee proprioception and lower limb function are essential for agility, stability, and power
during sport-specific activities.
Methods: This interventional study was conducted at Trident College of Education, Meerut, India,
and included 150 healthy amateur cricket players aged 18–25 years. Baseline knee proprioception was
assessed using joint position sense measurements at 30° and 45° of knee flexion in weight-bearing
positions. Functional performance was evaluated using shuttle run, Carioca, side step, and single-leg
hop tests. Cryotherapy was administered as ice massage to the knee joint for a standardized duration.
All assessments were repeated immediately post-intervention. Descriptive and comparative analyses
were performed.
Results: Cryotherapy resulted in a significant immediate increase in joint position sense error,
indicating reduced proprioceptive accuracy. Agility-based tests (shuttle run, Carioca, and side step)
demonstrated minimal or no clinically meaningful decline post-intervention. In contrast, hop test
performance showed a mild reduction, suggesting greater sensitivity of power-based tasks to cooling
effects.
Conclusion: Cryotherapy temporarily impairs knee proprioception in college-level cricket players,
while its effect on lower limb functional performance is task-specific and short lasting. Caution is
advised when applying cryotherapy immediately before activities requiring high proprioceptive
precision and explosive power.