Heat therapy in rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases – an overview of clinical and molecular effects

Abstract

Rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) usually lead to morphological and functional deficits of various extend, increased morbidity and a considerable loss of quality of life. Modern pharmacological treatment has become effective and can stop disease progression. Nonetheless, disease progression is often only slowed down. Moreover, pharmacological treatment does not improve functionality per se. Therefore, multimodal treatment of rheumatic disorders with physical therapy being a key element is of central importance for best outcomes. In recent years, research into physical medicine shifted from a sole investigation of its clinical effects to a combined investigation of clinical effects and potential changes in the molecular level (e.g., inflammatory cytokines and the cellular autoimmune system), thus offering new explanations of clinical effects of physical therapy. In this review we provide an overview of studies investigating different heat applications in RMDs, their effect on disease activity, pain and their influence on the molecular level.

Keywords:

• Rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases
• osteoarthritis
• physical therapy
• cytokines
• heat therapy

Acknowledgements

None

Authors’ contributions

PK, NS, PB and UL made substantial contributions to the conception and design of the work; PK, NS, PB and UL made the acquisition, analysis, and interpretation of data; PK, NS, PB and UL have drafted the work and substantively revised it.

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Competing interest

All authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Philipp Klemm declares no conflicts of interest.

Nils Schulz declares no conflicts of interest.

Priyanka Boettger declares no conflicts of interest.

Uwe Lange declares no conflicts of interest.

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