Immediate Analgesic Effects of Cold Spray as an On-Field First-Aid Intervention for Minor Musculoskeletal Injuries in University Soccer Athletes

Cryotherapy Visual Analog Scale First Aid Collegiate Soccer Sport Science

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Minor injuries such as muscle cramps, bruises, and sprains are common problems frequently experienced by soccer athletes, especially during intensive training. Prompt and appropriate first aid is essential to prevent further injury. This study aims to determine the effectiveness of cold spray as a first-aid method for minor injuries among athletes in the Singaperbangsa Karawang University Soccer Club. The research method used was a quasi-experimental study with a one-group pretest-posttest design. A total of 20 athletes who had sustained minor injuries served as the study sample. Pain levels were measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) before and after treatment. The results showed a decrease in the average pain level from 7.0 to 3.0 after the application of cold spray. A paired-sample t-test revealed statistically significant results (p < 0.05), indicating that cold spray is effective in rapidly reducing pain intensity. Thus, cold spray can serve as a practical and efficient first-aid option for managing minor injuries in a college sports setting.