title: Effects of cold mist shower on patients with inflammatory arthritis: a crossover controlled clinical trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the safety and effects of a new home treatment method, a whole-body cold mist treatment, on patients with chronic inflammatory arthritis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Whole-body cold mist shower therapy was given to 121 voluntary patients with chronic inflammatory arthritis in this crossover study during 1-week rehabilitation periods. Pain and sleep quality were assessed by a 10-cm visual analogue scale (VAS). Mental status was assessed by the Depression Scale (DEPS). Body temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, use of occasional pain and sleep medication, and possible side-effects were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The differences in pain (VAS) between treatment and control periods were significant (2.0 vs. 2.4, p = 0.006, paired t-test) in the last measurement, when assessing the pain of the past week as a whole. A trend could be seen of an increasing difference towards the end of the week. The treatment effect was statistically significant [likelihood ratio test (LRT), p < 0.0001] after controlling for period and sequence effects. There was an indication of better sleep quality (VAS) during the treatment period (2.3 vs. 2.7, p = 0.058 paired t-test) when assessing the past week as a whole. The mean DEPS scores showed no difference between the treatment periods (5.5 vs. 5.0, p = 0.1874 paired t-test, at start, and 4.5 vs. 4.1 p = 0.29 paired t-test, at the end). No significant side-effects were recorded.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The new whole-body cold treatment method may offer a safe option for self-treatment of pain at home but further study is needed to determine the clinical significance of the effect after longer use.
authors: a Research Unit , Rehabilitation Centre Apila , Kangasala , Finland.
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Hinkka
authors: a Research Unit , Rehabilitation Centre Apila , Kangasala , Finland.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Väättänen
authors: a Research Unit , Rehabilitation Centre Apila , Kangasala , Finland.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Ala-Peijari
authors: b School of Information Sciences , University of Tampere , Tampere , Finland.
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Nummi
mesh_terms: D015535:Arthritis, Psoriatic / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001831:Body Temperature; D003080:Cold Temperature; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D017679:Cryotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D003863:Depression; D005387:Finland; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D006875:Hydrotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D010146:Pain; D010147:Pain Measurement; D012890:Sleep; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D064232:Visual Analog Scale