The comparison of the effect of deep and superficial heat on healthy ankle joint position sense

Introduction: The exact effect of two kinds of deep and superficial heat on the joint position sense is not known clearly. The aim of this research is to compare the effect of deep to superficial heat on ankle joint position sense. Method & Materials: Thirty healthy male students participated in this study. Deep and superficial heats were applied for 15 minutes in two sessions for all participants. All the tests, active and passive ankle joint position sense in dorsi flexion and plantar flexion were measured by pedal goniometer prior to and after heat application. The Non Parametric paired T-test Wilcoxon and Mann-Withney were used to analyze the data. Results: In comparison of two types of heat, the results revealed that deep heat increased the AAE of active dorsi flexion significantly. Conclusion: According to the results, deep heat therapy improves passive ankle joint position sense in planter flexion, but however it worsens the active joint position sense of dorsi flexion.