Interferential current is a form of electrotherapy that is obtained by placing two different plates that produce medium frequency waveform current, resulting in a low frequency interferential waveform in deeper tissues. It was shown interferential current electrotherapy is beneficial for reduction of traumatic edema in tissues and pain control. Patients with conservatively managed distal radius fractures were recruited after casts are shed, and were treated with one session(30 minutes) of different protocols of interferential current electrotherapy. Before and after therapy, they were evaluated with volumetry, hand grip strength and visual analogue scale for pain.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE
Enrollment
105
Interferential current, entry frequencies and beat frequencies were set differently in 2 groups, amplitude was individualized and increased until patients felt a comfortable tickling sensation.
No current except for first 5 seconds, device open but does not appy electrotherapy.
Volumetry
Patients were asked to dip their hands slowly into a special bucket full of water with volume markings until their middle finger touched to the bottom of the bucket. The spilled amount of water were measured as milliliters.
Time frame: 30 minutes
Visual Analogue Scale
Patients were asked to express their discomfort level from pain in a scale ranging from 1 to 10(with the help of a 10 cm line), and point they showed were measured as millimeters.
Time frame: 30 minutes
Hand Grip Strength
Patients were asked to use a hydraulic hand dynamometer for hand grip strength in a position of 10 to 30 degrees of wrist extension, and results were registered as kilograms.
Time frame: 30 minutes
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