title: Effects of Pulsed Ultrasound Therapy on Sensory Nerve Conduction Parameters and the Pain Threshold Perceptions in Humans.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Therapeutic ultrasound is an often-used clinical modality in the nonsurgical treatment of entrapment neuropathies. To date, the possible mechanism of action of pulsed ultrasound therapy on the peripheral nerve in the treatment of entrapment neuropathies is unclear.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine the effects of pulsed ultrasound therapy on peripheral nerve conduction parameters.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective, randomized, single blind, crossover study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Outpatient clinic of a university department of physical medicine and rehabilitation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve healthy volunteers between 22 and 38 years of age (8 male, 4 female).
  
  
  METHODS
  Each patient (blinded) received ultrasound therapy (1W/cm2, pulsed: 1:5; over the course of the superficial branch of the radial nerve of the nondominant arm) and placebo (intensity: zero). The interval between the individual interventions was 1 week.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sensory nerve conduction velocity, sensory nerve action potential, supramaximal stimulation intensity of the sensory fibers of the radial nerve, and the pressure pain threshold in the sensory area of the radial nerve before and after an ultrasound-therapy and placebo intervention. To compare the results of the intervention with placebo, a paired-samples t test was applied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with placebo, a significant increase after pulsed ultrasound therapy was found for the supramaximal stimulation intensity (P = .02). For the other primary outcome parameters, a significant difference was not found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The immediate effect of pulsed ultrasound therapy on a sensory nerve is minimal. Therefore, the previously reported benefit of pulsed ultrasound therapy in entrapment neuropathies might be not due to its effect on the sensory nerve.
  
  
  METHODS
  I.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Medical University of Vienna, General Hospital of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria(∗). Electronic address: othmar.schuhfried@meduniwien.ac.at.
authors.forename: Othmar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Schuhfried
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Medical University of Vienna, General Hospital of Vienna, Vienna; Department of Urology, General Hospital of Oberwart, Oberwart, Austria(†).
authors.forename: Damir
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vukanovic
authors.affiliation: Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of Vienna, General Hospital of Vienna, Vienna, Austria(‡).
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kollmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Medical University of Vienna, General Hospital of Vienna, Vienna, Austria(§).
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pieber
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Danube Hospital, Vienna, Austria(¶).
authors.forename: Tatjana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Paternostro-Sluga
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009408:Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology*; D058748:Pain Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D014464:Ultrasonic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D000069453:Ultrasonic Waves; D055815:Young Adult