title: The Effects of Oscillatory Biofield Therapy on Pain and Functional Limitations Associated with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Biofield treatments have been used for pain control in patients with cancer and chronic pain. However, research on the effect of biofield treatment on specific somatic disorders is lacking. This study intends to investigate the effect of oscillating biofield therapy (OBFT) on symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty patients with chronic carpal tunnel syndrome participated in the study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were randomly assigned to active or placebo treatment groups. Those in the treatment group received six sessions of OBFT with intention to treat during a period of 2 weeks. Patients in the placebo group had the same number of treatment sessions with mock OBFT treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire; Symptom Severity Scale (SSS); and Functional Status Scale (FSS) were used for outcome assessment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both clinically and statistically significant changes in intensity of pain with activity (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.5-4.2; p = 0.000), night pain (p = 0.000, 95% CI, 3.2-5.7), DASH questionnaire (95% CI, 12.0-21.9; p = 0.000), SSS (95% CI, 0.64-1.15; p = 0.003), and FSS (95% CI, 0.41-0.97; p = 0.029) were found between the treatment and placebo groups. Statistically significant reduction in number of patients with positive results on the Phalen test (87%; p = 0.000), Tinel sign (73%; p = 0.000), and hand paresthesia (80%; p = 0.000) was noted in the treatment group. During 6-month follow-up, 86% of patients in the treatment group remained pain free and had no functional limitations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  OBFT can be a viable and effective treatment for improving symptoms and functional limitations associated with chronic carpal tunnel syndrome.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Physical Therapy, University of North Georgia , Dahlonega, GA.
authors.forename: Mohammad Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Nourbakhsh
authors.affiliation: 2 Bartow Regional Medical Center , Bartow, FL.
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.affiliation: 3 Ortho Sport Physical Therapy , Albany, GA.
authors.forename: Jason Benson
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.affiliation: 4 Department of Physical Therapy, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences , Tehran, Iran .
authors.forename: Amir Massoud
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Arab
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods*; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D019124:Therapeutic Touch / Q000379:methods*
keywords: alternative treatment; biofield; carpal tunnel syndrome; hand pain; oscillation; wrist pain