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Continuous Cold Therapy Reduces Pain After Shoulder Surgery
Full Title
The efficacy of continuous cryotherapy on the postoperative shoulder: a prospective, randomized investigation.
Summary
This prospective randomized study evaluated the effectiveness of continuous cryotherapy (cold therapy) after shoulder surgery in 70 patients. Patients were assigned to either a continuous cryotherapy group or an age-matched control group receiving no cold therapy. On the first day after surgery, patients receiving cryotherapy reported significantly less pain during sleep, greater comfort in bed, and more restful sleep than control subjects. The pain-reducing benefits of cold therapy persisted throughout the recovery period. These findings demonstrate that continuous cold therapy is an effective method for managing pain and improving comfort after shoulder surgery.