Cryotherapy in sport: an integrative review of its use in ankle sprains

Objective: To develop an integrative review of the results of cryotherapy for ankle sprains. Methods: An integrative review was carried out by searching the electronic databases PubMed and LILACS, using the descriptors "Cryotherapy", "Cold therapy", "Ankle trauma", "Ankle injuries", "Ankle sprains", "Syndesmotic injury", "Foot and ankle injuries", "Foot trauma", and "Metatarsophalangeal joint sprain, Ankle" in combination and with MeSH Terms, combined with the Boolean operators "and" and "or". We searched for national and international articles in English and Portuguese published in the last 20 years. A total of 91 articles were found, which were submitted to an evaluation of the abstracts, and 12 met the inclusion criteria. The data was collected in April 2024. Results: By analyzing the four studies that made up this review, it was possible to conclude that cryotherapy, despite its commonly known beneficial effects, still has limitations and potential risks when used over the long term or inappropriately. In addition, it was possible to see that there is a lack of consensus regarding its applicability as a treatment for ankle sprain, and little evidence available in the literature to elucidate its benefits. Therefore, there is a clear need for more studies on the subject. As for its use, it is essential to consider a balanced approach, integrating cryotherapy with other treatment modalities, such as early mobilization and functional rehabilitation, to optimize recovery and minimize adverse effects. Conclusion: The research has not provided enough solid evidence to support its benefits in a way that clarifies all doubts about its application.