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Optimal Cold Application Duration for Soft Tissue Injury Recovery
Full Title
The Effect of Soft Tissue Injury Cold Application Duration on Symptoms, Edema, Joint Mobility, and Patient Satisfaction: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Summary
This randomized controlled trial evaluated how different durations of cold application (10, 20, and 30 minutes) affected pain, swelling, joint mobility, and patient satisfaction in 105 patients with soft tissue ankle injuries. The 20-minute cold application group showed the greatest pain reduction and highest improvement in joint mobility and satisfaction scores. The 30-minute group experienced significantly more discomfort symptoms (tingling, redness, itching, numbness, and burning). The study concludes that 20 minutes is the optimal duration for cryotherapy to control pain, improve function, and maximize patient comfort.