THERMAL APPLICATIONS AS A

This study investigates the relative effects of thermal applications of varying temperatures on the flexibility of specified joints. Subjects were 14 sale college students ranging in age from 17 to 22 years with no previous joint injury or orthopedic disability. Each subject became familiar with the experimental design and was asked not to engage in any strenuous physical activity during the experiment. During the 8-week testing period, each subject reported at a prescribed time and was seated on a table for testing with the body and joints in a standardized position to evaluate the amount of joint motion. The test administrator measured ankle flexion and wrist flexibility and manipulated all movements while the subject remained as passive as possible. Experimental conditions consisted of cold and hot water treatments. To determine the effects of the varying temperatures, an analysis of variance was conducted on the change scores (post-immersion score minus pre-immersion score) using a 2x3 (temperature x time of immersion) factorial arrangement of treatment with repeated measures across both factors. Results indicate that cold water applications failed to affect range of joint motion at either the wrist or the ankle and that the range of motion at the wrist can be enhanced by immersion of the joint in hot water. (An 18-item bibliography is included.) (PD