Study design:experimental design Purpose: To investigate the effect of cryotherapy on knee joint position sense. Cryotherapy is commonly used before knee exercises to minimize inflammation & to allow individual to resume activity without pain. But whether it is safe for use before exercise needs to be evaluated. Setting: Rehabilitation department, Indian Spinal Injuries Centre, New Delhi. Subjects: 50 healthy subjects. Material: Continuous Passive Motion Machine, Aircast Autochill Cryocuff Unit, Air Splints, Handkerchief, Cotton Gauge, Weighing Machine, Stadiometer, Body marker. Methods: Two groups were formed, group 1 and 2. Baseline Joint Position Sense (JPS) score were measured at 3 predetermined angles ( 25º, 45º and 60º of knee flexion) using passive-passive technique, 2nd reading was taken immediately after 20 minutes of cryotherapy (experimental group - group 1 ) or no cryotherapy (control group - group 2) and 3rd reading was taken after 20 minutes of cryotherapy or no cryotherapy condition. Outcome Measure: Knee Joint Position Sense. Data Analysis: Statistical tests were performed using the STATA 7.0 and SPSS software. Paired t-test for within group comparison and unpaired t-test for between group comparisons was used. Result: Inaccuracy of JPS increased in all three angles after 20 minutes of cryotherapy (p < 0.05). But it did not come back to baseline JPS score even 20 minutes after completion of cryotherapy. Conclusion: 20 minutes of cryotherapy lessens the sensitivity for JPS. These findings may be significant and should be taken into account for therapeutic programmes that involve exercise immediately after a period of cooling.

Key Words: Joint Position Sense, Cryotherapy, Passive – Passive technique