Osteopathic Research Web

The effect of hydrotherapy on the endurance of the biceps brachi muscle using the Cybex Norm system

Item

Title

The effect of hydrotherapy on the endurance of the biceps brachi muscle using the Cybex Norm system

Author(s)

Goddard Steven

Abstract

The aim of this study was to test the effect of hot and cold contrast hydrotherapy on the endurance and peak torque of the biceps brachii muscle. The theory behind this study was that the contrast hydrotherapy would improve the endurance and peak torque of the biceps muscle in the subjects by improving the circulation and therefore the energy source and metabolic drainage. The fifteen subjects who took part in the study were tested using the cybex NORM testing system (isokinetic dynamometer). The test included 50 repetitions flexion/extension of the left elbow at 240( per second. Hot and cold packs were applied alternately to the subjects biceps before performing the repetitions again. Each subject was expected to perform the test procedure twice, once with the hydrotherapy intervention and once for a control without the hydrotherapy. The endurance ratio and peak torque were measured before and after the intervention and control. The results showed that the peak torque of the intervention group significantly increased with an average of 12.6% at 240( per second compared to the control group, which showed an average decrease of 6.3%. The subjects did not show a significant change of endurance with either the control or the hydrotherapy intervention. The pre intervention data for the hydrotherapy and control were significantly different preventing the results from being directly comparable. Therefore as these are paired pieces of data the reliability of the endurance testing is in doubt. These results indicate that the hydrotherapy applications do affect the intrinsic metabolism of the biceps brachii, but as to whether the blood supply to the muscle is significantly affected cannot be concluded from the study. Suggestions for Further Research
The aim of this study was to measure the effect of hot and cold hydrotherapy on the endurance of the biceps brachii muscle in order to better understand the mechanism behind hydrotherapy. Despite this study not showing a significant change in the endurance of the muscle, different approaches to the subject could be made which may yield a different result.
One such approach could be the use of the %age fatigue of the muscle, which is one of the data sections produced by the Cybex system. For this to be feasible all the subjects have to reach a certain level of fatigue (i.e. 50% stated in the Cybex NORM System Users Guide, 1996).
This test was performed with the movement arm set at 240( per second, with 50 repetitions in each. Alterations of these figures may change the result that was obtained. Decreasing the speed of the arm may increase the fatigue effect in the biceps so making any changes in arm more measurable. The same principle can be applied when increasing the number of repetitions.
At present the research into the optimum temperatures to use in hydrotherapy is quite variable, the temperatures used in this study were quite classical temperatures which have been stated in many older texts. It would be of interest to find out what differences varying the temperatures would make. Whether more extreme temperatures, which have a greater difference from skin temperature would be more effective or not.
The hydrotherapy performed during this study was very specific to the chosen muscle belly (biceps brachii), while not really effecting the tendons or many other muscles and structures in the area. Testing with the arm in an arm bath, so effecting all of the associated structures in the arm would be of interest to see if the effect of the hydrotherapy was much stronger as it has an influence over so much more of the biceps brachii and all other structures. On the other hand, the biceps are not the only muscle which causes elbow flexion, there is also the Brachialis, Brachioradialis and the superficial forearm flexors. It may be of interest to perform this study on a muscle which is the only mover (or primary mover) of a particular joint. Examples of this may be the Triceps (elbow extension) or the Quadriceps muscle (knee extension).
This study was examining the effect on endurance primarily, and peak torque secondarily. Further studies could look into maximal strength, and investigate whether this is effected by the hydrotherapy.
The main principle behind the hydrotherapy is a direct effect of the temperature change on the physiology and blood of the area. Investigation into the effect on the antagonist muscle group may be beneficial, as this would show a less direct effect of the hydrotherapy. This may be very useful in the practical field as hydrotherapy could be used even when the treatment area is inaccessible or is not able to have hydrotherapy applied to it. Strengthening of the antagonist group is also important with an injury or musculo-skeletal problem as both agonist and antagonist are recruited when performing strong movements to stabilise the joint.

presented at

British College of Osteopathic Medicine

Date Accepted

0

Date Submitted

1.1.1970 00:00:00

Type

osteo_thesis

Language

English

Submitted by:

62

Pub-Identifier

13632

Inst-Identifier

1076

Recommended

0

Item sets

Thesis

Goddard Steven, “The effect of hydrotherapy on the endurance of the biceps brachi muscle using the Cybex Norm system”, Osteopathic Research Web, accessed May 4, 2025, https://www.osteopathic-research.org/s/orw/item/1125