Mechanisms of low-temperature rehabilitation technologies. Local deep hypothermia in patients with arthritis

Abstract

Among all pathologies of the musculoskeletal system (MSS), osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are the two most common diseases the course of which is caused by a chronic inflammatory process. The leading clinical manifestations of OA and RA are pain and synovitis. This review analyzes the recent data on the pathogenesis of pain syndrome and synovitis, as well as the most commonly used surgical or conservative treatment and rehabilitation methods. The technologies of use of low-temperature effects in the rehabilitation of patients with arthritis are considered. The original concept of a new method for the relief of pain and synovitis in the knee joint by using local deep hypothermia (LDH) and a hypothesis of mechanisms of its action are presented.
 The purpose of the review is to provide a comparative analysis of the effectiveness of various methods of therapy and rehabilitation in patients with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, as well as to evaluate the mechanisms of local deep hypothermia in the relief of synovitis and knee pain.