This article shows that a 10-minute cold application on the trapezius muscle tied to significant decrease in pain score.
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MONDAY, May 1, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Local cold applications on the trapezius muscles significantly decreases the pain of patients with fibromyalgia, according to a study published online April 17 in the International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases.
Naside Yilmaz, from the Erzurum Regional Training and Research Hospital, and Emine Kiyak, Ph.D., from Ataturk University, both in Turkey, evaluated the effects on pain of a 10-minute local cold application applied to one trapezius muscle in each of 55 patients with fibromyalgia.
The researchers found that the patients’ mean pain score before the cold applications was found to be significantly higher than the scores reported at 10 minutes, 1.5 hours, and 24 hours after the application.
“With its discovery of a new method of pain control in fibromyalgia patients, this study will significantly contribute to science and will serve as a guide for pain management, especially in nursing practice. Further studies to evaluate the maximum effect duration and effect mechanisms of local cold applications to the trapezius muscles of FM patients are indicated,” conclude the authors.
Abstract
Aim
This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of local cold application on pain when applied to the trapezius muscles of patients with fibromyalgia.
Method
A one-group, pre-test/post-test, pre-experimental model was applied in this study, which was conducted with 55 fibromyalgia patients who presented to a rheumatology outpatient clinic. A 10-min cold application was administered to one trapezius muscle of each patient. The participants’ pain was evaluated, in total, four times (before the cold application and 10 min, 1.5 h and 24 h after the cold application). The visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain was used to collect data for the study, and Friedman and Wilcoxon tests were used to assess the data.
Results
The patients’ pain mean score before (6.45, SD:1.27) the cold applications was found to be significantly higher than the scores noted 10 min (2.75, SD:1.73), 1.5 h (2.45, SD:1.29), and 24 h (3.36, SD:1.30) after the application (P < 0.001).
Conclusion
The study found that local cold applications performed on the trapezius muscles of patients with fibromyalgia significantly decreased their pain. With its discovery of a new method of pain control in fibromyalgia patients, this study will significantly contribute to science and will serve as a guide for pain management, especially in nursing practice. Further studies to evaluate the maximum effect duration and effect mechanisms of local cold applications to the trapezius muscles of FM patients are indicated.