Local heat applications as a treatment of physical and functional parameters in acute and chronic musculoskeletal disorders or pain
Open accessAbstract
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the effectiveness of local heat applications (LHAs) in individuals with acute or chronic musculoskeletal disorders. DATA SOURCES: An electronic search was conducted on MEDLINE, Cochrane Controlled Register of Trials, Current Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and the Physiotherapy Evidence databases up to December 2019. STUDY SELECTION: Studies incorporating adults with any kind of musculoskeletal issues treated by LHA compared with any treatment other than heat were included. DATA EXTRACTION: Two authors independently performed the methodological quality assessment using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. DATA SYNTHESIS: LHA showed beneficial immediate effects to reduce pain vs no treatment (P<.001), standard therapy (P=.020), pharmacologic therapy (P<.001), and placebo/sham (P=.044). Physical function was restored after LHA compared with no treatment (P=.025) and standard therapy (P=.006), whereas disability improved directly after LHA compared with pharmacologic therapy (P=.003) and placebo/sham (P<.028). Quality of life was improved directly after LHA treatment compared with exercise therapy (P<.021). Range of motion increased and stiffness decreased after LHA treatment compared with pharmacologic therapy (P=.009, P<.001) and placebo/sham (P<.001, P=.023). The immediate superior effects of LHA on muscular strength could be observed compared with no treatment (P<.001), cold (P<.001), and placebo/sham (P=.023). CONCLUSIONS: Individuals with acute musculoskeletal disorders might benefit from using LHA as an adjunct therapy. However, the studies included in this meta-analysis demonstrated a high heterogeneity and mostly an unclear risk of bias.
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Reviews on conservative interventions and local heat application reported that conclusions could not be drawn about the effectiveness of interventions either due to low quality or insufficient data for the population of interest.
“The reviews on conservative interventions103 104 and local heat application97 reported that conclusions could not be drawn about the effectiveness of interventions either due to low quality or insufficient data for the population of interest.”
From Impact of healthcare interventions on distress following acute musculoskeletal/orthopaedic injury: A scoping review of systematic reviews (2024) · cites this paper as [97]
The Evaluation of methodological quality section (page unavailable) describes low-quality evidence and limited outcomes, supporting caution about effectiveness. But the Summary of findings (page unavailable) draws conclusions about beneficial effects of local heat application; the review does not say that no conclusions could be drawn. The cited paper does not establish the separate claim about reviews of conservative interventions. (LLM, conf=0.86)
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References 58 · Cited by 36
Research works printed but not linked: 4
- Heinrichs K. Superficial heat modalities. Superficial Therm Modalities 2003;16:277-88.
- primer Cohen JA power. Psychol Bull 1992;112:155-9.
- Michlovitz S, Hun L, Erasala GN, Hengehold DA, Weingand KW. Continuous low-level heat wrap therapy is effective for treating wrist pain. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2004;85:1409-16.
- Petrofsky J, Laymon M, Berk L, et al. A pilot study using blood bio- markers and physiological parameters to assess ThermaCare heat wraps for efficacy and timing of application of reduce DOMS from exercise. J Appl Res 2012;11:84-96.
- Authors
- Clijsen, R., Stoop, R., Hohenauer, E., Aerenhouts, D., Clarys, P., Deflorin, C., & Taeymans, J.
- Affiliations
- Bern University of Applied Sciences (CH)
- University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (CH)
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel (BE)
- Corresponding author
- Clijsen, Ron
- ORCID
- Venue
- Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2022-03
- Volume
- 103
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 505-522
- ISSN
- 0003-9993 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W3186762887
- Cited by
- 36
- References
- 58
- Citations by year
- 2026: 8 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 4
- FWCI
- 0.54
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- ARBOR - Bern University of Applied Sciences Repository (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- VUBIR (Vrije Universiteit Brussel) (submittedVersion)
- BFH: ARBOR
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Rehabilitation › Musculoskeletal Disorders and Rehabilitation
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › Infrared Thermography in Medicine
- Keywords
- local heat application, heat therapy, musculoskeletal disorders, musculoskeletal pain, acute pain, chronic pain, physical function, disability, quality of life, range of motion, joint stiffness, muscle strength, adjunctive therapy
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Exercise Therapy, Hot Temperature, Humans, Hyperthermia, Induced, Musculoskeletal Diseases, Pain, Quality of Life
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