How Cryotherapy Influences Pain Management and Swelling in Acute Musculoskeletal Tissue Injury: A Systematic Review
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Authors
Botkin, Kayla
Date of Issue
2025-04-25
Type
Presentation
Language
en_US
Subject Keywords
Other Titles
Abstract
Objective: To review relevant literature concerning the current clinical protocol for use of cryotherapy in acute musculoskeletal tissue injury.
Methods: Literature was gathered from Pubmed and CINAHL to assess the efficacy of cryotherapy in acute musculoskeletal injury, including the ankle and the knee. Interventions assessed include duration of cryotherapy and compression to the injury.
Results: The reviewed literature supported the current clinical practice of cryotherapy, which is the use of placing some sort of cold treatment (ice pack, icing machines, frozen vegetables, etc.) on the injury in 10-20 minute intervals. Though, in some cases, it can be beneficial to the patient to also include other forms of treatment alongside cryotherapy, such as compression.
Conclusions: The use of cryotherapy in acute musculoskeletal tissue injury has shown to be the best treatment in the healing of these injuries in the beginning phase. While cryotherapy proves to be the most effective way to treat these injuries, additional research should be done to find if paired treatments (cryotherapy plus compression, ultrasound, elevation) are even more effective.