Short-term effectiveness of short-wave diathermy treatment on pain, clinical
symptoms, and hand function in patients with mild or moderate idiopathic carpal
tunnel syndrome.
Author(s): Incebiyik S(1), Boyaci A(2), Tutoglu A(2).
Affiliation(s): Author information:
(1)Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harran University Medical
School, Sanliurfa, Turkey Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation,
Sanliurfa State Hospital, Sanliurfa, Turkey.
(2)Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harran University Medical
School, Sanliurfa, Turkey.
Publication date & source: 2014, J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil. ,
OBJECTIVE: We determined the effects of short-wave diathermy (SWD) treatment on
mild and moderate idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).
METHODS: This was a prospective, randomized, controlled, double-blind clinical
trial. The study involved 58 wrists in 31 patients diagnosed clinically and
electrophysiologically with mild and moderate CTS. They were assigned randomly to
one of two groups. Group 1 received a hot pack, SWD, and nerve and tendon gliding
exercises and Group 2 received a hot pack, placebo SWD, and nerve and tendon
gliding exercises. The treatment was applied five times weekly for a total of 15
sessions. Patients were evaluated using the Tinel test, Phalen test, carpal
compression test, reverse Phalen test, carpal tunnel compression test, Boston
Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ) Symptom Severity Scale (SSS), Functional
Status Scale (FSS), and a visual analog scale (VAS). Clinical tests and scales
were evaluated at the beginning and end of therapy.
RESULTS: In the SWD group, in the Tinel test, Phalen test, reverse Phalen test,
carpal compression test, VAS, BCTQ-FSS, and BCTQ-SSS, statistically significant
improvements were detected (p < 0.001). In the placebo group, although
improvements were seen in all parameters, the results were not statistically
significantly different (p > 0.05) from baseline. All parameters improved
significantly in the SWD group versus the controls (p < 0.05).
CONCLUSION: SWD provided short-term improvements in pain, clinical symptoms, and
hand function in patients with mild and moderate CTS.
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