Clinical Evolution and Safety of a Cryotherapy - Based Spray for Mild to Moderate Joint and Muscle Pain: A Descriptive Observational Study.
Manuel A Ballester Herrera, Josep M Muñoz Vives, Agusti Marti
PMID 39959416WHAT IT FOUND
Amateur football players with mild to moderate knee or ankle pain reported less pain and better movement after using a cooling spray.
However, with no control group, these gains may reflect natural healing or placebo effects rather than the spray itself.
Key findings
01Pain scores decreased significantly from baseline to day 21, with a large effect size reported.
02Joint range of motion improved significantly from before treatment to day 21.
03No adverse events were reported during the study.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study had no control group or placebo comparison, making it impossible to separate the spray's effect from natural healing or placebo effects. The participants were all amateur football players, so the results may not apply to other populations, such as older adults or those with different types of injuries. The study duration was short (three weeks), limiting conclusions about long-term effects. Participants continued normal daily activities, which could have influenced outcomes independently of the spray.
Declared interests
The study was conducted at a sports resource center. The product (Fisiocrem Spray) is manufactured by Uriach. The text does not explicitly state funding or conflict of interest declarations, but the focus on a specific commercial product warrants caution regarding potential bias.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that the cryotherapy spray caused the pain relief and improved mobility. Without a control group, these improvements could be due to natural healing, placebo effects, or continued daily activity.