Heat Versus Ice in the Acute Management of Neck and Back Strain Injuries

Stony Brook University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Back Strain; Neck Strain

Treatments: Other: Cold; Other: Heat

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01535365

20076955

Details and patient eligibility

About

Muscle sprains of the back and neck are very common. In addition to pain and antiinflammatory medications the use of either cold or hot packs has been recommended. In the current study we will compare ice packs and heat packs to see which is more effective at relieving pain from back and neck sprains while in the Emergency Department.

Full description

as above

Enrollment: 60 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Adult Patients with acute neck or back pain who are able to consent and are in pain on arrival to Emergency Department.

Exclusion criteria

• Those unable or unwilling to consent, those with suspected fractures or neurologic deficits.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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60 participants in 2 patient groups

Heat

Active Comparator group

Description:

Application of Heat pad to site of muscle sprain.

Treatment:

Other: Heat

Cold

Active Comparator group

Description:

Application of ice pack to muscle sprain.

Treatment:

Other: Cold