The Effect of Local Cold Therapy on Myalgia Pain.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to assess the efficacy of local cold therapy in reducing myalgia pain levels among emergency room patients.

METHODS

This was a pre-test/post-test randomized controlled study. Standard treatment (non-steroid analgesic anti-inflammatory parenteral medications) was implemented with one group, while the other groups received cold therapy and standard treatment. Before local cold therapy to the painful area, a Patient Description Form including sociodemographic information and a visual analog scale indicating pain level was applied. The VAS was repeated 10 and 30 minutes after cold therapy to the back.

RESULTS

Examining the patients' pain, it was seen that there was a significant difference in pain in the patients who received cold therapy compared to the standard group, especially after ten minutes (P < .05), but after 30 minutes, no significant difference was seen (P > .05). After the intervention, the pain level after 10 minutes in the control group was 6.6, while it was 4.4 in the experimental group.

CONCLUSIONS

The research showed that cold therapy has an effect on the treatment of myalgia and reduces the level of pain, especially quickly. As a result, it is recommended that research on non-pharmacologic pain management in myalgia be increased.