Ultrasound therapy effect in carpel tunnel syndrome

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the overall effect of repeated ultrasound treatment in carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Design: Patient-blinded, placebo-controlled, before-after treatment trial. Setting: University hospital PM&R department outpatient clinic and neurology department electromyography laboratory. Patients: Eighteen women with diagnosis of CTS in 30 hands. Interventions: Three groups, each with 10 cases of CTS, were randomly established Continuous ultrasound therapy, with intensities of 1.5W/cm(2) (group A), 0.8W/cm(2) (group B), and 0.0W/cm(2) (group C), was applied to palmar carpal tunnel area for 5 minutes, 5 days a week, for 2 weeks. Outcome Measures: Patients were evaluated clinically and electrophysiologically before and after the treatment. Results: At the end of treatment, statistically significant improvement was obtained in clinical parameters in all groups: pain (p < .05), pain/paresthesia at night/day (p < .05), and frequency of awakening at night (p < .05). Although there was no statistically significant before-after difference in electrophysiologic studies, slightly decreased motor nerve conduction velocity and increased motor distal latency were noted in groups A and B, but not in group C. Conclusion: Ultrasound therapy in CTS was Comparable to placebo ultrasound in providing symptomatic relief, and the probability of a negative effect on motor nerve conduction needs to be considered, (C) 1998 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.