Abstract

The study was designed to assess the changes of sensory excilability of the medial anlebrachial culaneous nerve (MACN) following the application of cooling and diathermy procedures in healthy people. The study involved a group of 133 healthy volunteers (aged 19 – 36 years), randomly assigned to four comparison groups A, B, C and D. In all groups, the subjects skin temperature in the medial nerve area was measured, as well as sensory excitability of the nerve. The measurements were taken immediately before and after the cooling and heating procedures, and then 20 minutes after the respective procedure was terminated. Group A received 20-minute cryotherapeutic procedures with frozen gel packs (-10oC). Group B received two-minute cooling with liquid nitrogen (at -160°C). In group C 12-minute microwave diathermy procedures (100 W) were performed. Group D received 12-minute shortwave diathermy procedures (280 W).In groups A, B and C chronaxie measured immediately after the procedure and 20 minutes later was statistically significantly longer than before the procedure. In group D no statistically significant changes were observed in chronaxie.Cooling procedures applied to the culaneous nerve at the temperatures of -10°C and -160°C and microwave diathermy reduce sensory excitability. Shortwave diathermy does not affect the cutaneous nerve excitability.

Key words:

excitability, cutaneous nerve, Cryotherapy, Diathermy