A RANDOMISED TRIAL TO EVALUATE THE EFFECT OF INFRA-RED STIMULATION OF LOCAL TRIGGER POINTS, VERSUS PLACEBO, ON THE PAIN CAUSED BY CERVICAL OSTEOARTHROSIS
Claims have been made that local heat is particularly useful in treating osteoarthritic pain. This randomized trial evaluates the short-term efficacy of local heat, on the pain caused by cervical osteoarthrosis. Two treatment groups were compared, 1 receiving mock TNS [transcutaneous nerve stimulation]and the other heat from an IR gun (the IRS Medtec 100). Bath placebo and treatment groups received treatment on local tender trigger points. Each patient received 4 treatments. Pain was assessed before the trial and after the completion of treatment; the parameters used for assessing pain were analgesic intake, sleep disturbance due to pain and subjective pain scare. Patients (26) were entered into the trial, 25 completed treatment. In the group receiving IR treatment 75% obtained significant pain relief. In the group receiving mock TNS, 31% obtained significant pain relief. A .chi.-squared test comparing these 2 groups gives a P value of 0.07.