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Systematic review of the analgesic effect of cryotherapy in the management of musculoskeletal pain

Abstract:

Introduction: Cryotherapy is an alternative to Superficial Thermotherapy based on the application of cold as a therapeutic agent, although it is quite clear it is widely used for pain relief. However, only relies on indirect mechanisms of action and without a scientific basis to support its clinical application. Based on this an analysis will be made of the evidence regarding the effectiveness of Cryotherapy by means of a Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials. Objective: To determine if there is scientific evidence to endorse the analgesic effect of Cryotherapy for the management of Musculoskeletal Pain. Strategy of Search: The words/phrases included in the search were, Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs), Systematic Reviews (SR) and Metaanalysis (MT), the databases used were: MEDLINE/PubMed, PubMed Central, ScienceDirect, Biomed Central, Cochrane Library Plus and DARE. Results: We selected a total of eight studies, including Randomized Controlled Trials and Systematic Reviews. Conclusions: There is moderate evidence supporting that the use of Cryotherapy reduces pain and improves recovery times in ankle sprain and soft tissue injuries associated with sport, but there is limited evidence for its use in Knee Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Low Back Pain Syndrome. © 2010 Sociedad Española del Dolor. Published by Elsevier España, S. L. All rights reserved.