Use of Cryotherapy on the Postsurgical Rheumatoid Hand

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Abstract
The use of cryotherapy on the postsurgical rheumatoid hand is studied with reference to pain and edema. The physiological significance of cold is discussed briefly, but major emphasis is placed on the “hunting response” and the use of cold as a treatment procedure The thirty subjects weretested pre- and postoperatively for edema. The hand was submerged in a hand-volume tank to determine the amount of volume for each hand. The hand-volume test was used to determine the amount of edema present postoperatively as compared to the preoperative hand volume. The postoperative pain was recorded as the patient subjectively described it as compared to the preoperative pain. The results were not conclusive because no significant difference at the .05 level of confidence was found in pre- and postoperative edema. Pain was considered to be reduced with the use of cryotherapy.

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