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[Intraindividual comparison of whole body cold therapy and warm treatment with hot packs in generalized tendomyopathy].
- Source :
-
Zeitschrift fur Rheumatologie [Z Rheumatol] 1992 Jan-Feb; Vol. 51 (1), pp. 25-30. - Publication Year :
- 1992
-
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.
Details
- Language :
- German
- ISSN :
- 0340-1855
- Volume :
- 51
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Zeitschrift fur Rheumatologie
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 1574933