title: Extracorporeal shock wave therapy and ultrasound therapy improve pain and function in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome. A randomized controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ultrasound (US) therapy improves symptoms in carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) patients. Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) uses acoustic energy to determine its clinical effects, as US-therapy does.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to compare the short-term efficacy of US and ESWT on mild and moderate CTS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  University outpatient service.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-five patients with mild to moderate CTS, for a total of 42 wrists.
  
  
  METHODS
  patients were randomized to receive US, cryo-US or ESWT, and were evaluated for pain and function before treatment started, at the end of treatment, and four and 12 weeks after the end of the treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant improvement was noted in all groups for pain (P<0.05) and functionality (P<0.05). Patients in ESWT group show greater pain improvement at 12-weeks follow-up when compared with both US and cryo-US groups (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients affected by CTS might benefit from the application of US, cryo-US or ESWT. Benefits persist 3 months after the end of treatment.
  Clinicians might consider the possibility of a short-term non-surgical management for mild-to-moderate CTS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy - marco.paoloni@uniroma1.it.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Paoloni
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tavernese
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cacchio
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: D'orazi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ioppolo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fini
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Santilli
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mangone
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000628:therapy*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D019220:High-Energy Shock Waves; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D020127:Recovery of Function; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014464:Ultrasonic Therapy / Q000379:methods*