The Effect of Local Heat Therapy versus Cold Rub Gel on Pain and Joint Functions in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis

Abstract

This study was compared the effect of local heat therapy versus cold rub gel on pain and joint function in patients with knee osteoarthritis. One hundred seventeen patients with knee osteoarthritis were randomly assigned to cold rub gel, local heat therapy, and control group. Data were collected by knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome score at a week prior to the interventions and on weeks of 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the interventions. A significant difference was found between the three groups in terms of pain severity ( p = .001), joint symptoms ( p = .001), ADL function ( p = .001), Sport and Recreation function ( p = .001), except Knee related QOL ( p = .3). Cold rub gel and heat therapy were both effective in improving pain and joint function in patients with knee osteoarthritis.