Background: cryotherapy application is commonly used as a physical therapy tools with many advantages. Although often used, its impact on the postural balance is not well-known.
Objectives: To investigate the effectiveness of contrast water immersion therapy on ankle posture stability in patients with lateral ankle sprain
Methods: Thirty patients, grade I and II lateral ankle sprain their age ranged between 18 to 35 years they were randomly divided into two equal groups using coin flip.
Interventions. Group (A) received selected physical therapy program for ankle sprain patients. Group (B) Received contrast water immersion for 16 min in addition to the same selected physical therapy program received by group (A) for 4 weeks. For both groups Biodex balance system was used to measure static and dynamic balance before and after treatment period.
Results: analysis of data using ANOVA test, show that there was significant decrease in Overall stability index , Mediolateral stability index and Anteroposterior stability index of the study group compared with that of the control group post-treatment
Conclusion: It's concluded that contrast water immersion for fifteen minutes in patients with lateral ankle sprain had significant effect on static balance.
Keywords: Static balance, contrast water immersion, ankle sprain.