Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat’s Better for Osteoarthritis?Cochrane Review: Thermotherapy Versus CryotherapyPoints to Remember
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What’s Better for Osteoarthritis?
Cochrane Review: Thermotherapy Versus Cryotherapy
Points to Remember
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis, affecting more than 32 million Americans.The stiffness, swelling, and joint pain can affect any joint but especially theknees,hips, andhands.
This article explains how heat and cold therapy may help, as well as switching between the two (contrast therapy).It offers insights you can discuss with your healthcare provider when choosing the best option for your needs.
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People living with osteoarthritis often try heat or cold applications to relieve symptoms. The treatment is easy and inexpensive compared to other treatment options, but people want to know:
Deciding when to useheat vs. cold therapyis the key.
A Cochrane Review assessed three randomized, controlled clinical trials involving 179 patients with knee osteoarthritis. Patients were allowed to continue taking their medications but also used hot, cold, or ice packs and towels, with or without massage. They were compared to a control group receiving no treatment. Reviewers looked for outcomes of pain relief, reduction of edema/swelling, and improvement of knee flexion (bending), range of motion, and function. Here are the results of the Cochrane Review:
To summarize, ice massage appeared to be beneficial for knee strength, range of motion, and function. Ice packs had no significant effect on knee pain and were useful for reducing knee swelling. Hot packs did not reduce swelling.
If you wish to try cold or heat, discuss it with your healthcare provider. Discuss which you should try and have your healthcare provider give you specific directions for how long and how often to use cold or heat. Some patients have individual preferences for heat or cold based on what has worked best for them in the past. But, start with your healthcare provider for advice specific to your situation.
5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Osteoarthritis.National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.Osteoarthritis: Care and management [clinical guideline CG177].Fokmare PS Jr, Phansopkar P.A Review on Osteoarthritis Knee Management via Contrast Bath Therapy and Physical Therapy.Cureus. 2022 Jul 27;14(7):e27381. doi:10.7759/cureus.27381.Algafly AA, George KP, Herrington L.The effect of cryotherapy on nerve conduction velocity, pain threshold and pain tolerance.British Journal of Sports Medicine. 2007;41(6):365-369. doi:10.1136%2Fbjsm.2006.031237Brosseau L, Yonge K, Welch V, et al.Thermotherapy for treatment of osteoarthritis.Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2003;4(CD004522). doi:10.1002/14651858.CD004522
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Osteoarthritis.National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.Osteoarthritis: Care and management [clinical guideline CG177].Fokmare PS Jr, Phansopkar P.A Review on Osteoarthritis Knee Management via Contrast Bath Therapy and Physical Therapy.Cureus. 2022 Jul 27;14(7):e27381. doi:10.7759/cureus.27381.Algafly AA, George KP, Herrington L.The effect of cryotherapy on nerve conduction velocity, pain threshold and pain tolerance.British Journal of Sports Medicine. 2007;41(6):365-369. doi:10.1136%2Fbjsm.2006.031237Brosseau L, Yonge K, Welch V, et al.Thermotherapy for treatment of osteoarthritis.Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2003;4(CD004522). doi:10.1002/14651858.CD004522
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Osteoarthritis.National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.Osteoarthritis: Care and management [clinical guideline CG177].Fokmare PS Jr, Phansopkar P.A Review on Osteoarthritis Knee Management via Contrast Bath Therapy and Physical Therapy.Cureus. 2022 Jul 27;14(7):e27381. doi:10.7759/cureus.27381.Algafly AA, George KP, Herrington L.The effect of cryotherapy on nerve conduction velocity, pain threshold and pain tolerance.British Journal of Sports Medicine. 2007;41(6):365-369. doi:10.1136%2Fbjsm.2006.031237Brosseau L, Yonge K, Welch V, et al.Thermotherapy for treatment of osteoarthritis.Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2003;4(CD004522). doi:10.1002/14651858.CD004522
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Osteoarthritis.
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.Osteoarthritis: Care and management [clinical guideline CG177].
Fokmare PS Jr, Phansopkar P.A Review on Osteoarthritis Knee Management via Contrast Bath Therapy and Physical Therapy.Cureus. 2022 Jul 27;14(7):e27381. doi:10.7759/cureus.27381.
Algafly AA, George KP, Herrington L.The effect of cryotherapy on nerve conduction velocity, pain threshold and pain tolerance.British Journal of Sports Medicine. 2007;41(6):365-369. doi:10.1136%2Fbjsm.2006.031237
Brosseau L, Yonge K, Welch V, et al.Thermotherapy for treatment of osteoarthritis.Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2003;4(CD004522). doi:10.1002/14651858.CD004522
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