Stručni rad

SHORT-TERM EFFICACY OF ULTRASOUND AND LASER THERAPY IN CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME

Nadica Laktašić-Žerjavić
Nikolino Žura
Ivan Jurak
Mislav Jezidžić
Iva Žagar
Kristina Kovač-Durmiš
Josip Draženović
Porin Perić

Sažetak

The goal of the study was to demonstrate the short-term efficacy of therapeutic ultrasound and therapeutic laser in combination with therapeutic exercises, as well as to determine possible differences in their effectiveness, through the evaluation of pain, wrist range of motion, grip strength, and functional hand capacity in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). The study was conducted on 60 adult patients randomly divided into two groups of 30. In addition to the hand
exercise therapy, one group was subjected to therapeutic ultrasound (UZV-G; continuous ultrasound therapy with an intensity of 1 W/cm2, for 5 minutes, 5 days a week, for 2 weeks), while the other was subjected to therapeutic laser (LLLT-G; 1.5 J /cm2, for 2 minutes, 5 days a week, for 2 weeks). Th e measurements were performed before and after the treatment cycle. The measured results showed a positive effect of both therapeutic modalities, combined with therapeutic exercises, on pain reduction (measured by visual analogue scale - VAS), wrist range of motion (measured by goniometer in degrees), and grip strength (measured by dynamometer in kilograms), as well as on general hand function (measured by the Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire - MHQ), with a statistically significant improvement post therapy (p <0.05) in all measured variables in both groups of patients. Th ere were no significant differences between the groups in any of the variables except for the MHQ (pre/post therapy, MHQ Δmean: UZV-G vs LLLT-G, 14.9 vs 4.3). The ultrasound group showed a signifi cantly larger, positive change in functional status as compared to the laser group (two-way ANOVA, MHQ group interaction, p<0.05, partial eta squared - η2 p <0.27). The results indicate that therapeutic ultrasound and therapeutic laser in combination with therapeutic exercises can be used in conservative management of CTS, with better short-term efficacy of ultrasound on the general hand function.

Ključne riječi

Carpal tunnel syndrome – diagnosis, physiopathology, therapy; Ultrasonic therapy; Hyperthermia, induced; Low-level light therapy; Pain measurement; Range of motion, articular; Hand strength; Exercise therapy; Treatment outcome

Hrčak ID:

198818

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/198818

Datum izdavanja:

29.3.2018.

Podaci na drugim jezicima: hrvatski

Posjeta: 1.956 *