Evidence supporting the use of: Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)
For the health condition: Sprains

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2

Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) has been explored as a topical treatment for sprains and other soft tissue injuries due to its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. Several studies from the 1960s through the 1980s investigated DMSO for acute musculoskeletal injuries, including sprains. Clinical trials, such as those published in The Lancet (1966) and Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research (1978), reported that topical DMSO could reduce pain and swelling compared to placebo or standard treatments. The proposed mechanisms involve DMSO’s ability to penetrate biological membranes, scavenge free radicals, and modulate inflammatory responses.

However, the quality of evidence is moderate at best. Many studies had small sample sizes, methodological weaknesses, or lack of blinding. Later reviews, including a 2011 Cochrane Review on topical analgesics for acute and chronic pain, noted insufficient high-quality evidence to firmly recommend DMSO for soft tissue injuries. Regulatory agencies such as the FDA have not approved DMSO for this indication, and its use remains off-label in most countries.

In summary, there is some scientific evidence—primarily from older studies—supporting the use of DMSO for sprains, but contemporary clinical guidelines do not generally endorse its use due to limited and inconsistent data. More rigorous, large-scale trials would be needed to better establish efficacy and safety.

More about Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)
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