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Clinical Trial
. 1998 Dec;79(12):1540-4.
doi: 10.1016/s0003-9993(98)90416-6.

Ultrasound therapy effect in carpal tunnel syndrome

O Oztas  1 , B Turan, I Bora, M K Karakaya
Affiliations
Clinical Trial

Ultrasound therapy effect in carpal tunnel syndrome

O Oztas et al. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1998 Dec.

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the overall effect of repeated ultrasound treatment in carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).

Design: Patient-blinded, placebo-controlled, before-after treatment trial.

Setting: University hospital PM&R department outpatient clinic and neurology department electromyography laboratory.

Patients: Eighteen women with diagnosis of CTS in 30 hands.

Interventions: Three groups, each with 10 cases of CTS, were randomly established. Continuous ultrasound therapy, with intensities of 1.5W/cm2 (group A), 0.8W/cm2 (group B), and 0.0W/cm2 (group C), was applied to palmar carpal tunnel area for 5 minutes, 5 days a week, for 2 weeks.

Outcome measures: Patients were evaluated clinically and electrophysiologically before and after the treatment.

Results: At the end of treatment, statistically significant improvement was obtained in clinical parameters in all groups: pain (p < .05), pain/paresthesia at night/day (p < .05), and frequency of awakening at night (p < .05). Although there was no statistically significant before-after difference in electrophysiologic studies, slightly decreased motor nerve conduction velocity and increased motor distal latency were noted in groups A and B, but not in group C.

Conclusion: Ultrasound therapy in CTS was comparable to placebo ultrasound in providing symptomatic relief, and the probability of a negative effect on motor nerve conduction needs to be considered.

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Comment in

  • Ultrasound therapy effect in CTS.
    Sucher BM. Sucher BM. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1999 Sep;80(9):1117. doi: 10.1016/s0003-9993(99)90071-0. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1999. PMID: 10489019 No abstract available.