Study: Ice Packs Ease Joint Pain From Acute Gouty Arthritis

People suffering from acute gouty arthritis, a metabolic disease that causes painful arthritis especially in the joints of the feet and legs,
can ease their pain with ice packs, according to researchers at New Jersey Medical School.

The researchers, in a study of 19 patients, gave all patients the drugs prednisone and colchicine, but 10 also had ice packs applied to the target joint for 30 minutes four times daily for a week.

Dr. Naomi Schlesinger reported in the Journal of Rheumatology that patients treated with ice therapy experienced a significant reduction in pain, and swelling and fluid buildup also appeared to be lower in ice therapy patients.

Other sources: Journal of Rheumatology