Professional paper
OUR EXPERIENCES WJTH CRYOTHERAPY IN THE TREATMENT OF PATIENTS SUFFERING FROM RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS
Marija GAŽIĆ
; Zdravildšče Dolenjske Toplice
Abstract
In our study we have presented our experiences with cryotherapy in rheumatoid
arthritis in the fr;nnework of balneorehabilitation. The balneorehabilitation
with hydrotherapy as the basic therapy represents .an essential form of treating
rheumatoid a11thriti.s. By means of cryotherapy we succeeded in conducting
continued therapy al<>o in patients with the sings of more severe inflamm.atory
activity and in patients in an early postoperative treatment. Cryotherapy was
applied in the form of cryomasaage lasting three to eight minutes. In the postoperative
treatment (synoviectomy, section of the head of ulna) due to the massive
postoperative edema cryomassage was administered twice daily. The number
of treated joints was not limited. We treated one to six joints, in an average
three joints per one patient. There was no agelirnit. Patients received 10-lS
treating procedures depending on 2- or .3-week stay in the Healt Resort. The status evaluation was made at the beginning and at the end of the therapy. We
measured the circumference of treated joints, circumference of .movability in the
joints, grip strenght. The patients were inquired to give a subjective evaluation
of the method applied. From January 1983 tili April 1984 153 patients with
rheumataid arthitis were treated. In 64 (42~/o) of them cryomassage was indicated
(52 women - 81~/o, 12 men- 19GM. The average age was SO years, ranging
from 24 to 70 years. The average duration of the disease was 9 years. Sixteen
patients were after a surgical treatment (5 after a synoviectomy, ll after the
section of the head of ulna). In all the pa1lients the excellent antiedcmatous and
analgesk effect of cryomassage was fullly expressed, and that after the seventh
or eight treating procedure already. No intolerance of ice was observed. All the
inquired patients evaluated the method as positive. At the end of the therapy
the improvement of . the measured parameters was 10 to 156/& and it resulted
from the synergistic action of complete therapy. Cryomassage is an important
part of therapy and a method of choice jn patients with the signs of severe
inflammatory affection or in postoperative edems, as with its good effects the
conducting of complete balneotherapy, especially of hydrotherapy and its continuity
is enabled.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
143906
URI
Publication date:
2.4.1985.
Visits: 1.586 *