Effects of local heat and cold treatment on surface and articular temperature of arthritic knees

Oosterveld FG, Rasker JJ · Arthritis and Rheumatism

Ligno-paraffin heat raised skin temperature by 7.5°C and intra-articular temperature by 1.7°C; ice chips cooled the joint cavity from 35.5°C to 29.1°C — superficial heat warms the joint interior rather than reflexively cooling it as an older model assumed.

Population

39 patients with knee arthritis, randomized to four local treatments with intra-articular temperature probes

Intervention

Ligno-paraffin heat, ice chips, nitrogen cold air, or placebo shortwave

Limitations

Physiological measurement study with no clinical outcomes; local applications, not sauna; invasive probes in a small sample.