Published in Alternative Medicine Review, Aug. 2002
Effect of ceramic-impregnated Thermoflow®™ gloves on patients with Raynaud’s syndrome: randomized, placebo controlled study as published Aug. 2002 in USA: Alternative Medicine Review.
Dr. Gordon D. Ko M.D, FRCPC & Dr. David Berbrayer M.D., FRCPC
Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Department of Medicine, University, of Toronto, Sunnybrook and Women’s College Health Sciences Center, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Abstract
Objective: To determine the efficacy of ceramic impregnated gloves in the treatment of Raynaud’s syndrome.
Design: Double blind, placebo controlled study
Setting: Teaching hospital outpatient clinic
Participants: Ninety three patients meeting the “Pal” criteria for Raynaud’s syndrome
Interventions: Treatment period of 3 months with use of ceramic impregnated gloves
Main outcome measures: Primary end points: Pain visual analog scale ratings and diary, Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, Hand-questionnaire, Jamar grip strength, Purdue board test of hand dexterity. Secondary end points: Infrared skin temperature measurements, seven point liken scale rating of treatment.
Results: In the 60 participants with complete data, improvements were noted in the visual analog scale rating (P=.001), DASH score (P=.001), Jamar grip strength (p=.002), infrared skin fingertip temperature (p=.003), Purdue hand dexterity test (p=.0001) and the liket scale (p=.001) with ceramic gloves over the placebo cotton gloves.
Conclusion: The ceramic impregnated Thermoflow®™ gloves have a clinically important effect in Raynaud’s syndrome.
This is a summary of the Clinical Trial results.
Conclusion
The findings of Thermoflow®’s Raynaud’s study indicate that ceramic-impregnated “Thermoflow®” gloves are superior to placebo gloves in the management of Raynaud’s symptoms. Significant improvements were documented in both subjective measures of pain and discomfort and in objective measures of temperature, grip, and dexterity.
