Objective:To investigate the effects of ice compress and external application of Xiaozhong Powder on IGF-1 mRNA expression and histomorphology in injured skeletal muscle. Methods6 rats from 86 SD rats were taken as the blank control group, the other rats were randomly divided into the injury model group, Xiaozhong Powder treatment group, ice compress group, combination group (ice compress and Xiaozhong Powder). The model of acute skeletal muscle injury was established in these 80 rats by hit method. The changes of IGF-1 mRNA expression and histomorphology in injured skeletal muscle were observed after treatment for 1,3, 7 and 14 days, respectively.  Results:There was no statistically significant difference among these groups after treatment for 1 day. After treatment for 3,7 and 14 days, the IGF-1 mRNA expression in the Xiaozhong Powder group and combination group was higher than that in the injury model group (P<0.05). After treatment for 1 and 3 days, the symptom of affected side in the ice compress group was almost the same as that in the injury model group, and the degree of tissue edema and inflammatory cell infiltration in the Xiaozhong Powder group and combination group was slighter than that in the injury model group. After treatment for 14 days, the gastrocnemius on the affected side showed local hematoma organization, scar tissue formation and striated muscle fiber regeneration in the injury model group. The injury in the Xiaozhong Powder group showed local revascularization and coexistence of scar tissue and myotube. The muscle fiber in the ice compress group was repaired to some extent, while the myotube and regenerated striated muscle fiber were irregularly arranged, and filled with connective tissue occasionally. In the combination group, the edema and inflammatory cell infiltration were absorbed, the myotube was well repaired and the muscle fiber tissue was compact and regularly arranged, which was similar to the normal tissue. After treatment for 1,3, 7 and 14 days, the injury scores in the combination group and Xiaozhong Powder group were lower than those in the injury model group (P<0.05) and ice compress treatment group (P<0.05).  Conclusion:Xiaozhong Powder can increase the IGF-1 mRNA expression in the injury tissue and promote the repair of skeletal muscle, while ice compress can not increase the IGF-1 mRNA expression in the injury tissue. The repair and improvement effects of ice compress on skeletal muscle injury is not obvious. Local revascularization is observed in the Xiaozhong Powder group, and the repair degree of muscle morphology is improved. The muscle repair in the combination group is similar to the normal tissue.