Effects of heat or cold on isometric grip strength

Abstract

Thirty-one volunteer college students (15 men and 16 women), were randomly assigned to two treatment groups, both eventually receiving heat and cold to their non-dominant forearms. This study, using repeated measures, attempted to answer the questions, "Does localized heat or cold have moderately long-term effects on isometric grip strength? If so, what are the clinical implications?" It was hypothesized that changes in temperature, both hot and cold, would cause an initial decrease in muscle strength which would then increase to our surpass baseline grip strength levels (cold and hot respectively). The results of the experiment proved to be statistically significant (p < 0.05), such that changes in temperature (hot or cold) caused a relatively long term decrease in isometric grip strength.