{"id":11846,"date":"2026-01-23T06:00:53","date_gmt":"2026-01-23T05:00:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/bjsm\/?p=11846"},"modified":"2026-01-22T10:23:28","modified_gmt":"2026-01-22T09:23:28","slug":"cryotherapy-in-the-postoperative-care-of-musculoskeletal-disorders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/bjsm\/2026\/01\/23\/cryotherapy-in-the-postoperative-care-of-musculoskeletal-disorders\/","title":{"rendered":"Cryotherapy in the postoperative care of musculoskeletal disorders"},"content":{"rendered":"

Key words: <\/b>Physical Therapy Modalities; Surgical Procedures; Systematic review.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why is this study important?<\/b><\/p>\n

Cryotherapy, the use of ice or cold for therapeutic purposes, is a widely used intervention in the rehabilitation and postoperative care of musculoskeletal injuries. Its popularity likely stems from being low-cost, easy to apply, and accessible for patients. Many recommendations in clinical practice rely on theoretical physiological mechanisms, and some guidelines still endorse cryotherapy on this basis (1, 2). However, the evidence regarding the effectiveness of cryotherapy on clinical outcomes is uncertain (3, 4). To better inform clinicians and patients, it is important to investigate the effectiveness of cryotherapy in postoperative musculoskeletal care, thereby understanding its clinical relevance.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How did the study go about this?<\/b><\/p>\n

We conducted a systematic review of Randomised Controlled Trials (RCTs). Searches were conducted across four scientific databases: MEDLINE, COCHRANE, EMBASE, and PEDro. We included trials involving individuals recovering from musculoskeletal surgeries such as ligament reconstructions, arthroplasties, and arthroscopies, among others. In each study, the experimental groups received cryotherapy, while the comparison groups received identical care without the cold component.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We focused on clinical outcomes, including pain intensity, range of motion, swelling, and function, measured across four time points: immediate (up to 3 days after allocation), short-term (3 to 14 days), medium-term (14 days to 12 weeks), and long-term (>12 weeks). Using meta-analysis, we pooled effect sizes and evaluated whether these differences reach the level of clinical relevance based on the Minimum Clinically Important Difference (MCID).<\/span><\/p>\n

What did the study find?<\/b><\/p>\n

We included 28 RCTs. The results are summarised below, expressed as Mean Difference (MD) or Standardised Mean Difference (SMD), along with their respective 95% confidence intervals.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Pain intensity (0-10 scale, 0 meaning no pain and 10 worst pain)<\/span><\/p>\n