Hand Cooling With Ice Packs in Healthy Young Men

Effects of Ice-Pack Application on Hand Skin Temperature and Subjective Thermal Sensation and Comfort in Healthy Young Men: A Randomized, Parallel-Group Controlled Trial

This randomized, parallel-group study looked at how a standard 15-minute ice pack applied to the back of the hand affects skin temperature and how cold and comfortable the hand feels, compared with a room-temperature water pack. Healthy young men were randomly assigned to one of the two groups during a single laboratory visit. Skin temperature was measured before, during, and after the application, and participants rated their thermal sensation (how cold/warm they felt) and overall comfort.

The main outcome was the change in hand skin temperature right after the 15-minute application. Additional outcomes included comfort and cold-feeling ratings and how quickly skin temperature returned toward baseline during recovery. This was a minimal-risk study; expected short-term effects included temporary cold, numbness, redness, or mild discomfort. No medicines or invasive procedures were used.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Healthy male volunteers (university student population).
• Good general health with no history of neck or upper-quadrant pain.
• Able to provide written informed consent.
• Willing to comply with pre-visit restrictions on the study day (abstain from tobacco, coffee, alcohol; no hand ointments for 24 h; wash/degrease hands ≥1 h before testing; refrain from vigorous exercise/physical treatments for 24 h).

Exclusion Criteria:

• Diabetes
• Thyroid or other endocrine dysfunction
• Significant spinal pain
• Generalised neurological or rheumatological disorders
• Regular use of pain medications or psychotropic medications