Journal of Sport Rehabilitation, 1997, 6,343-354 O 1997 Human Kinetics Publishers, Inc. The Effects of Cryotherapy Applied Through Various Barriers Kavin K.W. Tsang, Barton P. Buxton, W. Kent Guion, A. Barry Joyner, and Kathy D. Browder The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences in skin tempera- ture during ice application through a dry towel and a dry elastic bandage com- pared to application on bare skin. Nine subjects completed a 30-min treatment session that consisted of 0.68 kg of cubed ice applied under three conditions: through a dry towel, through a dry elastic bandage, and directly on the skin (control). Following the removal of the ice, all subjects were monitored for 20-min for skin temperature (S temp). There was a significant interaction in S temp between the control (12.50 f 4.39 "C) and dry towel (23.48 + 2.88 "C) conditions, the control (12.50 + 4.39 "C) and dry elastic wrap (27.47 + 2.36 "C) conditions, and the dry towel (23.48 f 2.88 "C) and dry elastic wrap (27.47 f 2.36 "C) conditions. The findings indicated that using a barrier (dry towel or dry elastic bandage) limits the temperature-reducing capacity of the ice and therefore its potential physiological effects. Cryotherapy has become the most widely accepted method of treating acute athletic injuries (8, 11, 12, 20, 23). Although injuries may vary in severity, the most common characteristics of trauma or injury are pain, inflammation, and loss of function. Due to the characteristics of acute trauma, cryotherapy is often used in conjunction with various compression or immobilization techniques, dressings, or bandages (1 1, 12,27,28). Cryotherapy can be used as an effective tool in the management of muscu- loskeletal injuries, both in the immediate care of trauma and during rehabilitation. The application of cooling agents is specifically indicated in the treatment of pain (acute, subacute, and chronic), muscle spasm, spasticity, edema, inflammation, and fever and for the control of bleeding (11, 12,28.) The term cryotherapy indicates a broad range of therapeutic applications of ice or cold agents. Knight described cryotherapy as the "therapeutic application of The authors are with Georgia Southern University, Department of Health & Kinesi- ology, Statesboro, GA 30460. Direct correspondence to Barton P. Buxton.