Temporal changes in pain and sensory threshold of geriatric patients after moist heat treatment

Abstract

[Purpose] The temporal changes of pain scale and sensory threshold after the application of a moist hotpack (HP) were investigated in chronically painful body regions of geriatric patients. [Methods] The subjects were 74 geriatric patients (45 female; 29 male) with pain in the low back, knee, or shoulder regions. HP was applied to each of the painful regions for 30 min. Pain was assessed using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), the Faces Pain Rating Scale (FPRS), and the Iowa Pain Thermometer (IPT), before and 0, 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 h after HP application. The sensory threshold was measured, before and 0, 1, and 24 h after HP application using an electro-stimulator. [Results] The level of pain was significantly decreased by HP application for 30 min, as shown by VAS, FPRS and, IPT, and the effect was maintained for at least for 3 h. The effect of HP gradually wore off and pain had returned to the basal level at 24 h. The effect of HP was more potent and long term in the shoulder region of male patients than in that of females. Moreover, the sensory threshold also increased after HP application for 30 min in all regions. [Conclusion] These results suggest that the application of HP alone may be effective for treating chronic pain experienced by geriatric patients.