The aim of this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was to evaluate the effects of shortwave diathermy therapy on pain, grip strength, and functionality in patients with hand osteoarthritis.
Patients who apply to the physical medicine and rehabilitation outpatient clinic between January 2024 and February 2025 will be included in the study according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria specified below. Demographic data of the patients such as age, gender, height, and weight will be recorded. In the initial evaluation, VAS, hand dynamometer and pinchmeter measurements, Duruöz Hand Index questionnaire and Moberg Addition Test results of the patients will be noted. The G\*Power 3.1 (Faul, Erdfelder, Lang, and Buchner, 2007) program was used to calculate the sample size. In the comparisons of different parameters between groups in reference studies, the effect size was calculated to be at the level of 0.9. This corresponds to a large level according to Cohen's effect size classification. Accepting a statistical significance coefficient of 0.05 with an effect size of 0.9, it was decided to include a minimum of 16 people in each group to obtain 80% power. A total of 36 patients (with a 10% drop-out margin) will be included in the study and will be randomly divided into two groups as treatment and control groups. Randomization will be done by closed envelope method. The treatment group will be given 15 sessions: 20 minutes (27.12 MHz, continuous mode, 400W output) short wave diathermy treatment, hand osteoarthritis exercise program. The control group will be given 15 sessions: sham short wave diathermy and hand osteoarthritis exercise program. Patients will complete 15 sessions, 1 session per day, 5 sessions per week. All evaluation parameters will be recorded before treatment, at the end of treatment and at the end of treatment at the 12th week. Intra-group and inter-group differences will be examined statistically.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
36
Shortwave diathermy (SWT) is a form of electromagnetic therapy that causes the movement of ions, the disruption of molecules, and the generation of eddy currents, which ultimately produce heat in deep tissue. Its claimed mechanism of action includes inducing an anti-inflammatory response, reducing joint stiffness, stimulating connective tissue repair, and reducing muscle spasm and pain.
range of motion, strengthening and stretching exercises
Sham protocol
Haydarpaşa Numune Training and Research Hospital
Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)
Visual Analog Scale
0-10 scale. Higher scores represent more severe pain.
Time frame: At the beginning of treatment (week 0), at the end of treatment (week 3) and 12 weeks after the end of treatment (week 15)
hand dynamometer and pinchmeter measurements
Measurements will be made three times for each fine force on both hands and the average values will be recorded in kg.
Time frame: At the beginning of treatment (week 0), at the end of treatment (week 3) and 12 weeks after the end of treatment (week 15)
Duruöz Hand Index
It is a self-report functional disability scale containing 18 items on daily living activities. Each question is scoring from 0 to 5. The total score ranges from 0 to 90. A higher score indicates a greater level of limitations.
Time frame: At the beginning of treatment (week 0), at the end of treatment (week 3) and 12 weeks after the end of treatment (week 15)
Moberg Pickup Test
In the Moberg pick-up test, for the evaluation of hand skills, the patient was positioned in the sitting position in a chair and a table was put in front of the patient, and 8 small objects were put on the table . The patient was requested to pick up these objects using the affected hand without sliding on the surface and to put them in a box present on the table, and the duration was recorded in seconds.
Time frame: At the beginning of treatment (week 0), at the end of treatment (week 3) and 12 weeks after the end of treatment (week 15)
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