title: The dose-dependent efficiency of radial shock wave therapy for patients with carpal tunnel syndrome: a prospective, randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
abstract: Recently, extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) has been shown to be a novel therapy for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). However, previous studies did not examine the diverse effects of different-session ESWT for different-grades CTS. Thus, we conducted a randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled study. Sixty-nine patients (90 wrists) with mild to moderate CTS were randomized into 3 groups. Group A and C patients received one session of radial ESWT (rESWT) and sham eESWT per week for 3 consecutive weeks, respectively; Group B patients received a single session of rESWT. The night splint was also used in all patients. The primary outcome was Boston Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Questionnaire (BCTQ) points, whereas secondary outcomes included the sensory nerve conduction velocity and cross-sectional area of the median nerve. Evaluations were performed at 4, 10, and 14 weeks after the first session of rESWT. Compared to the control group, the three-session rESWT group demonstrated significant BCTQ point reductions at least 14 weeks, and the effect was much longer lasting in patients with moderate CTS than mild CTS. In contrast, the effect of single-session rESWT showed insignificant comparison. rESWT is a valuable strategy for treating CTS and multiple-session rESWT has a clinically cumulative effect.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Tri-Service General Hospital, School of Medicine, National Defense Medical Center, No. 325, Sec. 2, Cheng-Kung Road, Neihu District, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ming-Jen
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Ke
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Tri-Service General Hospital, School of Medicine, National Defense Medical Center, No. 325, Sec. 2, Cheng-Kung Road, Neihu District, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Liang-Cheng
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, National Defense Medical Center, No. 161, Sec. 6, Minquan East Road, Neihu District, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yu-Ching
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Tri-Service General Hospital, School of Medicine, National Defense Medical Center, No. 325, Sec. 2, Cheng-Kung Road, Neihu District, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Tsung-Ying
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Tri-Service General Hospital, School of Medicine, National Defense Medical Center, No. 325, Sec. 2, Cheng-Kung Road, Neihu District, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Heng-Yi
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Tri-Service General Hospital, School of Medicine, National Defense Medical Center, No. 325, Sec. 2, Cheng-Kung Road, Neihu District, Taipei 11490, Taiwan, Republic of China.|Graduate Institute of Medical Science, School of Medicine, National Defense Medical Center, No. 161, Sec. 6, Minquan East Road, Neihu District, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Chia-Kuang
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Tri-Service General Hospital, School of Medicine, National Defense Medical Center, No. 325, Sec. 2, Cheng-Kung Road, Neihu District, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yung-Tsan
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D000074059:Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D019220:High-Energy Shock Waves / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008475:Median Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000528:radiation effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome