Effect of Topical Cooling with Ice and Cold Spray on Knee Joint Position Sense of Athletes with Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

Background: Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is one of the most common knee injuries in athletes and non-athletes. Due to the pain and muscle inhibition, it is possible that the disorder has negative effects on joint position sense. Cryotherapy is one of the most common methods applied in sports injuries. Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of topical cooling with ice and cold spray on knee joint position sense of athletes with PFPS. Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, 30 athletes with PFSP were divided into two groups of cold spray and crushed ice application. The effect of cooling on joint position sense was measured by the target reconstruction method (30° of knee flexion) while standing. In order to analyze the data, SPSS 23 and statistical tests of Shapiro-Wilk, paired t-test, and independent t-tests were used. The absolute error of 30° knee flexion angle reconstruction immediately after cryotherapy was significantly higher than before it in various cooling methods. Nevertheless, crushed ice application had a greater impact on the accuracy of joint position sense than spraying. Results: The results of this study indicate the negative effects of cryotherapy on the accuracy of the knee joint position sense (P < 0.05). However, cryotherapy with crushed ice application has a greater effect on reducing the accuracy of joint position sense (P < 0.001) than cold spray (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Decreased accuracy of position sense is likely to cause mechanical instability and increase the rate of injury. Therefore, it is recommended to use crushed ice application rather than topical cooling to reduce the knee joint position sense.

Improving Shelf Life, Maintaining Quality, and Delaying Microbial Growth of Broccoli in Supply Chain Using Commercial Vacuum Cooling and Package Icing

Poor and inconsistent quality is a major barrier to increasing produce consumption, and the lack of shelf-life after purchase is the quality issue at retail displays of produce. This research aimed to investigate and identify cooling techniques, namely vacuum cooling and package icing used in supply chains, and any resulting extension of broccoli shelf-life, maintenance of physicochemical quality, and delay in microbial growth at retail stores. Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica cv. Montop) sustainably grown in the highlands of northern Thailand, Chiang Mai Province, under the Royal Project Foundation was experimented on vacuum cooling and package icing were selected to precool broccoli to 4 ± 1 °C. The effects of vacuum cooling using a final pressure of 0.6 kPa for 30 min and package icing using liner Styrofoam boxes (the best ratio of broccoli to crushed ice was 1:1 w/w) on physicochemical qualities, microbial growth, and shelf-life in simulated refrigerated retail displays were examined. The results illustrated that the shelf-life and quality of broccoli could be extended using both vacuum cooling and package icing. Both precooling techniques inhibited the yellowing of florets, provided high sensory scores, delayed microbial growth, and could be able to extend the shelf-life of broccoli. However, package icing offered greater potential for maintaining quality, especially retaining bioactive compounds, and extending shelf-life, thereby increasing the produce market window from 5 to 12 days at 8 ± 1 °C with 85% RH. Therefore, package icing was recommended in the supply chain for fresh broccoli cv. Montop grown in northern Thailand.

A Combination of Ice Ingestion and Head Cooling Enhances Cognitive Performance during Endurance Exercise in the Heat

his study assessed the effectiveness of head cooling during exercise in the heat on cognitive performance, either alone or with ice ingestion. Ten healthy males, non-acclimatized to heat, ran (70% V̇O2peak) for 2×30 min in heat (35 ± 0.9°C, 68.2 ± 6.9% RH). Participants completed 3 trials: 10 min of head cooling during exercise (HC); precooling with crushed ice (7gikg-1) and head cooling during exercise (MIX); or no-cooling/control (CON). Working memory was assessed using the automated operation span task (OSPAN) and serial seven test (S7). Following MIX, S7 scores were improved compared to CON (12 ± 9.5, p = 0.004, d = 1.42, 0.34-2.28) and HC (4 ± 5.5, p = 0.048, d = 0.45, -0.47 to 1.3) during exercise. Moderate to large effect sizes were recorded for S7 and OSPAN following MIX and HC compared to CON, suggesting a tendency for improved cognitive performance during exercise in heat. Following precooling (MIX), core body temperature (Tc) and forehead temperature (Th) were lower compared to baseline (-0.75 ± 0.37°C, p < 0.001; -0.31 ± 0.29°C, p = 0.008, respectively) but not in HC or CON (p > 0.05). Thermal sensation (TS) was lower in MIX and HC compared to CON during exercise (p < 0.05). The reduction in Tc, Th and TS with MIX may have attenuated the effect of heat and subsequently improved working memory during exercise in heat.

Changes in the Structure and Thermal Conductivity of Crushed Ice Frozen Backfills

Crushed ice backfills are widely used in the regions of the North. There, in natural conditions in winter, it can be easily prepared for the subsequent arrangement and repair of damaged temporary road surfaces, sealing cracks in the ice layer, backfilling with over-ice water and for the formation of ice refrigerant reserves in refrigerated food storage facilities.

Experimental investigation of tire performance on slush

An investigation of tires behaviour on winter roads was always a high importance in the context of road safety. This paper presents the experimental investigation of tire performance on slush that is identified as two mixtures: a mixture of snow and water, and a mixture of crushed ice and water. The measurements of longitudinal and lateral performance including tire traction, braking and cornering were performed. Tire traction tests were performed for both mixtures with different amount of material. A decreasing in the tire friction was observed when amount of the mixture of snow and water was increased twice. For the mixture of crushed ice and water, an opposite trend was observed. The standard deviation values for the peak force coefficient showed a good reproducibility and reliability of performed tire tests.

Dependence of wave parameters in broken ice on its cohesion in shallow water

При решении таких ледотехнических задач, как измельчение крупно-битого льда для облегчения его пропуска через гидротехнические сооружения при весенних ледоходах, разрушение ледяных заторов и зажоров в условиях мелководья, где не могут работать ледоколы из-за их осадки и пр. находят применение амфибийные суда на воздушной подушке (СВП). В работе поставлена задача оценить влияние сплоченности битого льда на скорость и длину волн в битом льду, возбуждаемых СВП при их движении в условиях мелководья со скоростями, соответствующими возникновению максимального волнового сопротивления. С этой целью в опытовом бассейне были проведены соответствующие эксперименты с использованием искусственного битого льда, изготовленного из полиэтилена высокого давления, плотность и коэффициент трения которого были близки к естественному льду. Выполненные исследования позволяют разработать наиболее эффективные приемы маневрирования СВП в условиях битого льда различной сплоченности с целью его измельчения, т.е. уменьшения размеров обломков. На основании выполненных экспериментов и анализа известных теоретических зависимостей показано, что при определении таких важных параметров гравитационных волн, как их длина и скорость распространения, возбуждаемых судном в битом льду, могут быть использованы соответствующие зависимости из теории волн на чистой воде. When solving such ice-technical problems as crushing coarse-crushed ice to facilitate its passage through hydraulic structures during spring ice drifts, the destruction of ice jams and blockages in shallow water, where icebreakers cannot work due to precipitation, etc. amphibious vessels air cushion (SVP). The objective of the work is to assess the influence of the cohesion of broken ice on the speed and wavelength in broken ice excited by SVPs when they move in shallow water with speeds, corresponding to the occurrence of maximum wave resistance. For this purpose, corresponding experiments were carried out in the experimental pool using artificial beaten ice made of high pressure polyethylene, the density and friction coefficient of which were close to natural ice. The performed studies allow us to develop the most effective methods for maneuvering SVPs in the conditions of broken ice of various cohesion with the aim of crushing it, i.e. debris reduction. Based on the performed experiments and analysis of known theoretical dependences, it was shown that in determining important parameters of gravitational waves, such as their length and propagation velocity, excited by a vessel in broken ice, the corresponding dependences from the theory of waves in pure water can be used.

Enhanced Decision Making and Working Memory During Exercise in the Heat With Crushed Ice Ingestion

Purpose: To examine the effects of precooling via crushed ice ingestion on cognitive function during exercise in the heat. Methods: Eleven active men ingested either 7 g·kg−1 of crushed ice (ICE) or thermoneutral water (CON) 30 minutes before running 90 minutes on a treadmill at a velocity equivalent to 65% VO2peak in hot and humid conditions (35.0°C [0.5°C], 53.1% [3.9%] relative humidity). Participants completed 3 cognitive tasks to investigate decision making (8-choice reaction time [CRT]), working memory (serial seven [S7]), and executive control (color multisource interference task [cMSIT]) on arrival, after precooling, and after running. Results: Precooling significantly decreased preexercise core (Tcore) and forehead skin temperature in ICE compared with CON, respectively (Tcore 0.8°C [0.4°C], –0.2°C [0.1°C]; Thead –0.5°C [0.4°C], 0.2°C [0.8°C]; P ≤ .05). Postrun, ICE significantly reduced errors compared with CON for CRT (P ≤ .05; d = 0.90; 90% confidence interval, 0.13–1.60) and S7 (P ≤ .05; d = 1.05; 90% confidence interval, 0.26–1.75). Thermal sensation was lower after precooling with ICE (P ≤ .05), but no significant differences were recorded between conditions for cMSIT errors, skin temperature, heart rate, or ratings of perceived exertion or perceived thirst (P > .05). Conclusions: Precooling via ICE maintained cognitive accuracy in decision making and working memory during exercise in the heat. Thus, ICE may have the potential to improve sporting performance by resisting deleterious effects of exercise in a hot and humid environment on cognitive function.