1) Slower metabolism A drop in temperature of 10°C reduces the metabolic speed by about 50%. This reduces the oxygen demand and adapts it to the post-traumatic, reduced local oxygen supply in the tissue. In comparison, an increase of plus 3°C leads to a fourfold increase of the enzyme activities, e.g. collagenese. Every injury results in a comparable inflammatory over warming.
2) Reduced tissue damage Local hypothermia affects a reduction of the hypoxia damage (caused by ischaemia) in that it interrupts the circulusvitiosusdue to lack of oxygen, acidosis, destruction of the cell membrane and death of the cell and moreover, slows down the activity of the lysomal enzymes (released from the dead cells).
3) Reduced swelling The result is a lower concentration of free cell parts (primarily proteins) and less water deposit in tissue by lowering colloidosmotic pressure combined with the normally positive capillary filtration pressure.
4) Immediate analgesic effect Less release of pain producing substances occurring naturally in the body (mediator). Biochemical and physical desensitization of nociceptorsplus lowering of neural transmit rapidity.
5) Quicker recovery During the cold therapy, the healing of the wound is slowed as well as the remaining metabolism without this having a negative effect on the completion of the wound healing. In fact due to the lesser degree of tissue damage, the cold therapy leads to a quicker recovery.
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