The purpose of this study is to compare the efficacy of combining a wrist orthosis with either ultrasound therapy or paraffin bath therapy in treating carpal tunnel syndrome patients.
The purpose of this exploratory study is to compare the combination of a wrist orthosis with either ultrasound therapy or paraffin bath therapy in the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome patients. We hypothesized that ultrasound therapy might be more effective than paraffin therapy because it provides both thermal and nonthermal effects.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
60
Patients in the ultrasound therapy group were treated with US therapy for 5 minutes each session, twice per week for 8 weeks.
Patients in the paraffin therapy group were treated with the dip-and-wrap method of paraffin bath therapy in the hospital twice per week for 8 weeks. The temperature of the paraffin bath was maintained at approximately 55°C
Functional Status Scale of the Boston Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Questionnaire
All of the answers were scored from 1 to 5 according to the patient's clinical condition, such that 1 indicated no symptoms, and 5 indicated the most severe symptoms.
Time frame: 8 weeks
Symptom Severity Scale of the Boston Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Questionnaire
All of the answers were scored from 1 to 5 according to the patient's clinical condition, such that 1 indicated no symptoms, and 5 indicated the most severe symptoms.
Time frame: 8 weeks
Pain Scale
The pain VAS is a continuous scale comprised 10 centimeters (100 mm) in length. 0 indicate no pain, 100 indicate maximum pain.
Time frame: 8 weeks
Difference of Monofilament Sensory Test (Before and After Treatment)
The Semmes-Weinstein monofilament sensory test was measured by applying force-calibrated nylon filament to the fingertips with the wrist in a neutral supine position A weighted score from 1 to 5 was acquired according to each filament's calculated force . We recorded the scores from seven sample areas in each hand and summed the scores to analyze as a continuous variable.Higher score indicate decreased finger tip sensation with increased disesase severity.Total score range:7 -35.
Time frame: 8 weeks
Difference in Palmar Pinch Power Test (Before and After Treatment)
Palmar pinch strength was measured by pressing the thumb and the index finger tip against a standard dynamometer. This procedure was repeated 3 times measuring in kilograms, and a mean score was obtained. Higher score indicate better pinching strength, which indicate less disease severity. Score range: minimum :0 kilogram
Time frame: 8 weeks
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Difference in the Distal Sensory Latencies of the Median Nerve (Before and After Treatment)
A standard distance (14 centimeter) was maintained between the stimulator and recording electrodes for the sensory nerve conduction studies. Increased distal latency indicate delay of nerve conduction, which imply poor disease progress.
Time frame: 8 weeks
Difference in the Distal Motor Latencies of the Median Nerve (Before and After Treatment)
Median motor nerve conduction and distal motor latency were measured by placing a stimulating electrode at the wrist and a recording electrode on the abductor pollicis brevis muscle 8 centimeter from the stimulus electrode. Increased distal latency indicate delay of nerve conduction, which imply poor disease progress.
Time frame: 8 weeks