THE EFFECT OF COLD THERAPY ON PAIN, SWELLING, AND RANGE OF MOTION AFTER ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY

This prospective study assessed the effect of cold therapy on pain, pa in medication use, limb swelling, and knee range of motion in 131 pati ents who had an arthroscopically assisted anterior cruciate ligament r econstruction. Patients were randomized into five treatment groups. Co oling pads were incorporated into the dressing in 89 patients, and no cooling pads were used in 42 patients. There were four cooling-pad tem perature groups: 40-degrees-F, 45-degrees-F, 55-degrees-F, and 70-degr ees-F. The cooling pads lowered the skin temperature. There was no dif ference between groups with respect to hospital stay, pain medication use, pain scale, knee girth, or range of motion.