Anti-inflammatory effects of ultrasound therapy: evidence for a major placebo effect.
The value of therapeutic ultrasound (US) for reducing inflammation was tested in a double-blind controlled study in 150 patients following surgical removal of impacted lower third molars. Facial swelling, trismus, pain and serum C-reactive protein (CRP) were significantly reduced in the US-treated groups and in a placebo group ('mock' US) compared with an untreated control group. The majority of the anti-inflammatory activity was attributable to the placebo effect, and the highest intensity of US (1.5 W.cm-2) was consistently less beneficial than the lower intensities (0.1 and 0.5 W.cm-2) and the mock US.
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Hashish
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Harvey
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Harris
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008964:Molar, Third; D010166:Palliative Care; D010919:Placebos / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012737:Sex Factors; D013280:Stomatitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D014081:Tooth Extraction / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014095:Tooth, Impacted / Q000601:surgery; D014313:Trismus / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy; D014464:Ultrasonic Therapy / Q000592:standards*
D010919:Placebos; D003907:Dexamethasone