(English) Episode 228-Heat Before Ice For Muscle Soreness

This research paper presents a network meta-analysis evaluating how various thermal treatments alleviate pain from delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). By analyzing 59 randomized controlled trials, the authors compared ten recovery methods, including cold-water immersion, hot packs, and novel cryotherapy. The results indicate that hot packs are the most effective for pain relief within the first 48 hours following strenuous exercise. Conversely, for recovery periods extending beyond 48 hours, advanced cryotherapy and phase change materials emerged as the superior interventions. While thermal therapies offer a low-cost and accessible alternative to medication, the authors emphasize that current studies have limited quality. Ultimately, the choice of therapy should be tailored to the specific timeframe of the recovery process to maximize analgesic benefits.(Wang Y, Lu H, Li S, Zhang Y, Yan F, Huang Y, et al. Effect of cold and heat therapies on pain relief in patients with delayed onset muscle soreness: A network meta-analysis. J Rehabil Med [Internet]. 2022;54:jrm00258. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.2340/jrm.v53.331)