[Intraindividual comparison of whole body cold therapy and warm treatment with hot packs in generalized tendomyopathy].

Abstract

In a cross-over study, the short-term efficacy of whole-body cold therapy and hot mud packs in patients with generalized tendomyopathy (fibromyalgia) was compared. As a pain assessment, visual analog scale and so-called pain score were measured; dolorimetry of the 24 tender points and eight control points was performed as well. Using these methods, we found that there is a significant improvement of all parameters examined during a 2-h period of measurements after cold application, and a marked improvement was also detectable 24 h after this therapy. In contrast, only pain score values showed a slight decrease immediately after hot mud-pack therapy, and no significant differences were found in visual analog scale and pressure tenderness as measured dolorimetrically. Central inhibition of nociceptors as a result of an activation of A-delta system as well as a blockade of gamma-motoneurons are discussed to be a mechanism of action of whole-body cold therapy, resulting in a decrease in muscle tonus. Long-term studies are needed to determine, if there is any enduring effect of whole-body cold therapy on pain in the patients with generalized tendomyopathy.

• Authors: W Samborski, T Stratz, M Sobieska, P Mennet, W Müller, J Schulte-Mönting
• Journal: Zeitschrift fur Rheumatologie (Z Rheumatol) 1992 Jan-Feb Vol. 51 Issue 1 Pg. 25-30 ISSN: 0340-1855 [Print] Germany
• Vernacular Title: Intraindividueller Vergleich einer Ganzkörperkältetherapie und einer Wärmebehandlung mit Fangopackungen bei der generalisierten Tendomyopathie (GTM).
• PMID: 1574933 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Comparative Study, English Abstract, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Topics

• Cryotherapy
• Fibromyalgia (rehabilitation)
• Follow-Up Studies
• Hot Temperature (therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Pain Measurement
• Physical Therapy Modalities (methods)