Lisa S. Jutte

Skinfold Thickness at 8 Common Cryotherapy Sites in Various Athletic Populations.

CONTEXT Researchers have observed slower cooling rates in thigh muscle with greater overlying adipose tissue, suggesting that cryotherapy duration should be based on the adipose thickness of the treatment site. Skinfold data do not exist for other common cryotherapy sites, and no one has reported how those skinfolds might vary because of physical activity level or sex. OBJECTIVE To determine the variability in skinfold thickness among common cryotherapy sites relative to sex and activity level (National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I athletes, recreationally active college athletes). DESIGN Descriptive laboratory study. SETTING Field. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS Three hundred eighty-nine college students participated; 196 Division I athletes (157 men, 39 women) were recruited during preseason physicals, and 193 recreationally active college athletes (108 men, 85 women) were recruited from physical education classes. INTERVENTION(S) Three skinfold measurements to within 1 mm were taken at 8 sites (inferior angle of the scapula, middle deltoid, ulnar groove, midforearm, midthigh, medial collateral ligament, midcalf, and anterior talofibular ligament [ATF]) using Lange skinfold calipers. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Skinfold thickness in millimeters. RESULTS We noted interactions among sex, activity level, and skinfold site. Male athletes had smaller skinfold measurements than female athletes at all sites except the ATF, scapula, and ulnar groove (F₇,₂₇₀₂ = 69.85, P < .001). Skinfold measurements were greater for recreationally active athletes than their Division I counterparts at all sites except the ATF, deltoid, and ulnar groove (F₇,₂₇₀₂ = 30.79, P < .001). Thigh skinfold measurements of recreationally active female athletes were the largest, and their ATF skinfolds were the smallest. CONCLUSIONS Skinfold thickness at common cryotherapy treatment sites varied based on level of physical activity and sex. Therefore, clinicians should measure skinfold thickness to determine an appropriate cryotherapy duration.

Response of Thermocouples Interfaced to Electrothermometers When Immersed in 5 Water Bath Temperatures

CONTEXT Thermocouples and electrothermometers are used in therapeutic modality research. Until recently, researchers assumed that these instruments were valid and reliable. OBJECTIVE To examine 3 different thermocouple types in 5 degrees C, 15 degrees C, 18.4 degrees C, 25 degrees C, and 35 degrees C water baths. DESIGN Randomized controlled trial. SETTING Therapeutic modality laboratory. INTERVENTION(S) Eighteen thermocouple leads were inserted through the wall of a foamed polystyrene cooler. The cooler was filled with water. Six thermocouples (2 of each model) were plugged into the 6 channels of the Datalogger and 6 randomly selected channels in the 2 Iso-Thermexes. A mercury thermometer was immersed into the water and was read every 10 seconds for 4 minutes during each of 6 trials. The entire process was repeated for each of 5 water bath temperatures (5 degrees C, 15 degrees C, 18.4 degrees C, 25 degrees C, 35 degrees C). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Temperature and absolute temperature differences among 3 thermocouple types (IT-21, IT-18, PT-6) and 3 electrothermometers (Datalogger, Iso-Thermex calibrated from -50 degrees C to 50 degrees C, Iso-Thermex calibrated from -20 degrees C to 80 degrees C). RESULTS Validity and reliability were dependent on thermocouple type, electrothermometer, and water bath temperature (P < .001; modified Levene P < .05). Statistically, the IT-18 and PT-6 thermocouples were not reliable in each electrothermometer; however, these differences were not practically different from each other. The PT-6 thermocouples were more valid than the IT-18s, and both thermocouple types were more valid than the IT-21s, regardless of water bath temperature (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS The validity and reliability of thermocouples interfaced to an electrothermometer under experimental conditions should be tested before data collection. We also recommend that investigators report the validity, the reliability, and the calculated uncertainty (validity + reliability) of their temperature measurements for therapeutic modalities research. With this information, investigators and clinicians will be better able to interpret and compare results and conclusions.

Un)Reasonable Search in High School Athletics

8 JOPERD • Volume 80 No. 2 • February 2009 As school districts around the country consider drug testing for student-athletes, attention recently turned to the state of Washington, where the Supreme Court declared the Wahkiakum School District’s random drugtesting program unconstitutional in violation of the state’s privacy laws. The school had instituted random drug testing during the 1999-2000 school year, after half of its student-athletes identified themselves as drug or alcohol users. Thus, as an absolute condition of playing extracurricular sports, every student-athlete had to agree to be tested, and anyone found with drugs or alcohol in their urine was to be suspended from participation. The district had based its policy on the Vernonia School District drug-testing program, which had been upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court (Vernonia v. Acton, 1995).