Ultrasound therapy effect in carpal tunnel syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the overall effect of repeated ultrasound treatment in carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).


METHODS
Patient-blinded, placebo-controlled, before-after treatment trial.


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


METHODS
Eighteen women with diagnosis of CTS in 30 hands.


METHODS
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.


METHODS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Oztas
O
O
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department, Uludag University Medical School, Bursa, Turkey.
Turan
B
B
Bora
I
I
Karakaya
M K
MK
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009431:Neural Conduction; D011930:Reaction Time; D012307:Risk Factors; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014464:Ultrasonic Therapy / Q000379:methods*