title: Short-term effects of local microwave hyperthermia on pain and function in patients with mild to moderate carpal tunnel syndrome: a double blind randomized sham-controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the short-term effects of local microwave hyperthermia on pain and function in patients with mild to moderate idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Double-blind randomized sham-controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Outpatient clinic of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University Hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-two patients with idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome, 12 of whom had bilateral involvement, for a total of 34 wrists, divided into two groups: a hyperthermia active treatment group (number of wrists = 17) and a sham-controlled group (number of wrists = 17).
  
  
  METHODS
  Six sessions, two per week, of either hyperthermia or sham treatment were provided over a period of three weeks.
  
  
  METHODS
  Visual analogue scale, Levine-Boston Self-Assessment Questionnaire (part I: evaluation of pain intensity; part II: evaluation of functional status) and neurophysiological assessments, were determined at baseline and at the end of the treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The hyperthermia group experienced a significant improvement in pain (visual analogue scale: P = 0.002; Levine-Boston part I: P < 0.0001) and functional status (Levine-Boston part II: P = 0.002) relative to baseline. No improvements in pain intensity or functionality were observed in the sham-treated group. Changes in pain severity between baseline and the end of treatment were larger in the hyperthermia group than in the sham-controlled group (Δ visual analogue scale P = 0.004; Δ Levine-Boston part I: P = 0.009). No differences either intra or between groups were observed for median nerve conduction velocity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hyperthermia provides short-term improvements in pain and function in patients with mild to moderate carpal tunnel syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Catholic University, Rome, Italy. giuseppina.frasca@rm.unicatt.it
authors.forename: Giuseppina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Frasca
authors.forename: Loredana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Maggi
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Padua
authors.forename: Paola Emilia
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Ferrara
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Granata
authors.forename: Ileana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Minciotti
authors.forename: Emanuele
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Marzetti
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Specchia
authors.forename: Gianpaolo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ronconi
authors.forename: Alessia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rabini
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bertolini
authors.forename: Diana Barbara
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Piazzini
mesh_terms: D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008872:Microwaves / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors