title: Intra-articular temperature measurements after superficial heating.
abstract: Superficial heating of the joint is widely used in various rheumatic conditions and is considered as decreasing the intra-articular temperature. This study shows that heating the joint with hot pack significantly increases the articular temperature from 35.2 +/- 1.5 degrees C (mean +/- SD) to 36.4 +/- 1.0 degrees C (p less than 0.001), while intra-cavity temperature of the contralateral unheated knee joint did not change significantly. Since such elevation of temperature of one degree C is liable to enhance the inflammatory process, the use of superficial heating has to be carefully reconsidered in acute and chronic inflammatory joint diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine D, Beilinson Medical Center, Petah Tiqva, Israel.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Weinberger
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fadilah
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lev
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pinkhas
mesh_terms: D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D001831:Body Temperature; D006801:Humans; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced / Q000009:adverse effects; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*