Practical guidance on the use of heat therapy for musculoskeletal pain in pharmacy practice
Paulino E, Gervasoni F, Grattagliano I, Hotfiel T, Rossi R (2026)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2026
Journal
Book Volume: 24
Article Number: 3525
Journal Issue: 2
DOI: 10.18549/PharmPract.2026.2.3525
Abstract
Objective: Musculoskeletal pain (MSKP) is a leading cause of disability worldwide and a frequent concern for community pharmacy consultations. While superficial heat therapy (HT) is commonly recommended in clinical guidelines, practical pharmacy-specific guidance remains limited. This paper provides condition-specific recommendations and practical decision-making algorithms for the use of HT in MSKP within pharmacy practice. Methods: Recommendations were developed through two international multidisciplinary meetings that synthesized published evidence and real-world clinical experience. A structured consensus approach was used to identify patient profiles, red-flag indicators for referral, and appropriate use of HT as monotherapy or in combination with pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions. Results: Practical algorithms tailored to pharmacy settings are presented for common MSKP scenarios including neck pain, low back pain, knee pain, and osteoarthritis. Guidance emphasizes a symptom-driven model, outlining when HT is appropriate, when combination strategies are needed, and when referral is required. Conclusions: This paper provides pharmacists with actionable, evidence-informed tools to support safe, patient-centered care in MSKP. While further research is warranted to validate these recommendations in prospective studies, these algorithms address an urgent need for practical pharmacy-based guidance in non-pharmacological pain management.
Authors with CRIS profile
Involved external institutions
ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco
Italy (IT)
Italian College of General Practitioners and Primary Care (SIMG)
Italy (IT)
L'Ospedale Mauriziano di Torino
Italy (IT)
Italy (IT)
Italian College of General Practitioners and Primary Care (SIMG)
Italy (IT)
L'Ospedale Mauriziano di Torino
Italy (IT)
How to cite
APA:
Paulino, E., Gervasoni, F., Grattagliano, I., Hotfiel, T., & Rossi, R. (2026). Practical guidance on the use of heat therapy for musculoskeletal pain in pharmacy practice. Pharmacy Practice, 24(2). https://doi.org/10.18549/PharmPract.2026.2.3525
MLA:
Paulino, Ema, et al. "Practical guidance on the use of heat therapy for musculoskeletal pain in pharmacy practice." Pharmacy Practice 24.2 (2026).
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