Manuel Rodríguez-Huguet , Daniel Rodríguez-Almagro , Miguel Angel Rosety-Rodríguez , Maria Jesus Vinolo-Gil , Javier Molina-Jiménez , Jorge Góngora-Rodríguez
{"title":"Pulsed negative pressure myofascial vacuum therapy and percutaneous electrolysis in the treatment of lateral epicondylalgia: A single-blind randomized controlled trial","authors":"Manuel Rodríguez-Huguet , Daniel Rodríguez-Almagro , Miguel Angel Rosety-Rodríguez , Maria Jesus Vinolo-Gil , Javier Molina-Jiménez , Jorge Góngora-Rodríguez","doi":"10.1016/j.jht.2024.02.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jht.2024.02.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div><span>Lateral Epicondylalgia (LE) represents one of the most common </span>injuries of the upper limb. It is necessary to find effective treatments that reduce pain and increase functionality.</div></div><div><h3>Purpose</h3><div><span>To determine the effects of an integrated intervention of Pulsed Negative Pressure Myofascial Vacuum Therapy (VT), Percutaneous Electrolysis (PE) and </span>eccentric exercise<span> (EE) in the treatment of LE compared versus Manual Therapy soft tissue mobilization (MT) and Ultrasound therapy (US) and EE.</span></div></div><div><h3>Study design</h3><div>Single-blind randomized controlled trial.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Forty participants, with unilateral LE, were randomly divided into two groups: VT + PE + EE group (<em>n</em> = 20) and MT + US + EE group (<em>n</em><span><span> = 20). The VT + PE + EE group received one weekly session for four weeks and a regimen of EE daily at-home, and the MT + US + EE group received 10 sessions over a period of two weeks and a regimen of EE daily at-home. Numerical pain rating scale (NPRS), range of motion (ROM) </span>pressure pain threshold (PPT) and function (PRTEE questionnaire) were measured before treatment, at the end of treatment, and at one- and three-month follow-ups.</span></div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The statistically significant improvements were found post-treatment, favoring the VT + PE group in pain intensity (<em>p</em> < 0.001; ES = 0.408), PRTEE-S Pain (<em>p</em> = 0.001; ES = 0.377), PRTEE-S Specific function (<em>p</em> = 0.004; ES = 0.306) and PRTEE-S Total (<em>p</em><span> = 0.001; ES = 0.355). The VT + PE + EE treatment<span> showed greater effectiveness than the MT + US + EE treatment at immediate post-treatment, as well as at the one-month and three-months follow-up.</span></span></div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>VT and PE added to an EE program could be an effective treatment for pain, ROM, PPT, and function in patients with LE.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54814,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Hand Therapy","volume":"37 4","pages":"Pages 644-652"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140061344","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Rachel N. Logue Cook MS , Kathy L. Kern MS, Susan H. Brown PhD
{"title":"Effectiveness of a home training program on improving pinch force perception in older adults","authors":"Rachel N. Logue Cook MS , Kathy L. Kern MS, Susan H. Brown PhD","doi":"10.1016/j.jht.2024.02.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jht.2024.02.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Hand function is reduced with aging which can lead to impairments in the performance of daily activities and eventually loss of independence. The ability to perceive the forces being applied to an object is an important component of hand control that also declines with age. However, the extent to which force perception can be improved through training remains largely unknown.</div></div><div><h3>Purpose</h3><div>This study evaluated the effectiveness of a home-training program focused on improving force perception in older adults.</div></div><div><h3>Study Design</h3><div>Quasi-experimental - Uncontrolled trial.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div><span>Eleven independent, healthy adults (mean age: 77.2 ± 6.8 years) participated in a home-based sensorimotor hand training program 6 days/week for 6 weeks. Force perception, the primary outcome variable, was measured as the ability to reproduce a pinch force equal to 25% maximum voluntary contraction in the </span>absence<span> of visual feedback using either the ipsilateral remembered or contralateral<span> concurrent (CC) hand. We also measured hand strength, dexterity, tactile acuity, and cognition before and after training.</span></span></div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>After the program was completed, participants showed a 35% reduction in absolute (<em>p</em><span> < 0.01, confidence interval (CI): [7.3, 33.2], effect sizes (ES): 0.87) and constant (</span><em>p</em> = 0.05, CI: [0.0, 34.9], ES: 0.79) force matching errors in the CC condition. Improvements in dominant hand dexterity (Purdue pegboard test) (<em>p</em> < 0.05, CI: [0.2, 2.4], ES: 0.60) and tactile sensitivity (JVP thresholds) (<em>p</em> < 0.05, CI: [−1.7, −0.1], ES: 0.94), as well as cognition (Trail Making Test B) (<em>p</em> < 0.05, CI: [−24,1. −1.6], ES: 0.30) were also observed post-training.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The results suggest that home-hand training can be an effective way to improve force perception among older adults.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54814,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Hand Therapy","volume":"37 4","pages":"Pages 635-643"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141472789","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Research should advance the quintuple aims of better patient experience and outcomes, improved provider work role experience, cost efficiency and equity","authors":"Joy C MacDermid","doi":"10.1016/j.jht.2024.11.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jht.2024.11.005","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":54814,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Hand Therapy","volume":"37 4","pages":"Pages 493-494"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142792707","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Alice Ørts Hansen , Kamilla Kielsgaard , Stina Meyer Larsen
{"title":"Management of everyday life after a hand operation—A qualitative study of patients with a weak sense of coherence","authors":"Alice Ørts Hansen , Kamilla Kielsgaard , Stina Meyer Larsen","doi":"10.1016/j.jht.2023.12.016","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jht.2023.12.016","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>A hand-related disorder (HRD) has a more significant impact on participation in everyday life for patients with a weak sense of coherence (SOC) compared to those with a strong SOC. Therefore, understanding how patients with a weak SOC manage the conditions of everyday life after a hand operation is of clinical interest.</div></div><div><h3>Purpose</h3><div>This study aimed to explore how patients with a weak SOC experience and manage the conditions of everyday life after an operation for an HRD.</div></div><div><h3>Study Design</h3><div>A qualitative design with a hermeneutic approach.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>An in-depth interview was conducted with each of eight adults—five women and three men—with an HRD and a weak SOC (SOC-13 score <52). Participants with varying HRDs were interviewed once between six and 13 weeks after the hand operation. Data were analyzed based on a hermeneutic approach.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The analyses resulted in five themes: even more conditions to handle, challenges in everyday life, managing everyday life, different expectations, and the influence of information on everyday life. The lives of most participants were significantly impacted: they experienced a range of difficulties managing their activities and roles after their operation. The participants felt uncertain about managing everyday life and the future and expressed unfulfilled expectations for different reasons. All wanted individualized information about what to expect.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Participants had several conditions in life that challenged their everyday lives, and the HRD made their everyday lives even more challenging. The extent to which they felt affected appeared to relate to their perception of their presurgery activities. They had several strategies to manage everyday life but used these to varying extent. Their expectations about the outcome had both positive and negative effects on their ability to manage everyday life, and individually adapted information was requested about what to expect and how to cope with everyday life after the surgery.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54814,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Hand Therapy","volume":"37 4","pages":"Pages 625-634"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139555853","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Orhan Güvener MD , Figen Dağ PhD, PT , Günşah Şahin MD , Levent Özçakar MD
{"title":"Immediate effects of Kinesio taping in carpal tunnel syndrome: A randomized controlled double-blind ultrasonographic study","authors":"Orhan Güvener MD , Figen Dağ PhD, PT , Günşah Şahin MD , Levent Özçakar MD","doi":"10.1016/j.jht.2023.12.017","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jht.2023.12.017","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>The effects of Kinesio taping (KT) in carpal tunnel syndrome are controversial.</div></div><div><h3>Purpose</h3><div>This study aimed to examine whether KT has any effect on the skin, subcutaneous tissue<span>, and median nerve measurements and to compare the effects of two different KT applications.</span></div></div><div><h3>Study Design</h3><div>This is a prospective, double-blinded, randomized trial. This study was prospectively registered on the clinicaltrials.gov (NCT05475197). A total of 34 wrists (21 patients) who were clinically and electrophysiologically diagnosed with mild/moderate carpal tunnel syndrome were randomly divided into two KT intervention groups (group 1: neural technique and area correction technique and group 2: area correction technique).</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div><span>At baseline and immediately after the removal of KT (48 hours), pain was assessed with visual analog scale, hand grip strength with a hand-held </span>dynamometer<span>, and pinch strength using a pinch meter. Likewise, using ultrasound, skin and subcutaneous tissue thicknesses, median nerve cross-sectional area and flattening ratio, as well as median nerve depth were measured at the carpal tunnel inlet and outlet levels.</span></div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>While there was significant improvement in the pain scores (compared to the baseline) immediately after the KT in both groups (group 1: <em>p</em> = 0.03, η<sub>p</sub><sup>2</sup> = 0.44; group 2: <em>p</em> < 0.001, η<sub>p</sub><sup>2</sup> = 0.71), there was no difference in between (<em>p</em> = 0.07, η<sub>p</sub><sup>2</sup> = 0.10). Grip strength significantly increased only in group 2 (<em>p</em> = 0.01, η<sub>p</sub><sup>2</sup> = 0.35). None of the sonographic measurements displayed significant difference either within or between groups at baseline and after KT (all <em>p</em> > 0.05).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>While pain scores improved after KT, they were not coupled with any morphologic changes assessed by ultrasound.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54814,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Hand Therapy","volume":"37 4","pages":"Pages 520-528"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139742747","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Verónica Gracia-Ibáñez PhD , Alba Roda-Sales PhD , Pablo J. Rodríguez-Cervantes PhD , José F. Fuentes-Ballesteros DipHE , Pablo Granell PhD , Margarita Vergara PhD , Joaquín L. Sancho-Bru PhD
{"title":"Impaired intrinsic hand strength in women with osteoarthritis","authors":"Verónica Gracia-Ibáñez PhD , Alba Roda-Sales PhD , Pablo J. Rodríguez-Cervantes PhD , José F. Fuentes-Ballesteros DipHE , Pablo Granell PhD , Margarita Vergara PhD , Joaquín L. Sancho-Bru PhD","doi":"10.1016/j.jht.2024.02.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jht.2024.02.005","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":54814,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Hand Therapy","volume":"37 4","pages":"Pages 691-694"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141332533","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Silvia Comoletti MA Medicine (Physiotherapy) , Chiara Mercogliano MA Psychology (Organizational Wellbeing)
{"title":"Focal dystonia in musicians, a literature review","authors":"Silvia Comoletti MA Medicine (Physiotherapy) , Chiara Mercogliano MA Psychology (Organizational Wellbeing)","doi":"10.1016/j.jht.2024.02.011","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jht.2024.02.011","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Musician’s focal dystonia<span> (mFD) is a rare, neurological, task-specific disorder that mainly affects the upper extremity (especially the hands) and generally appears as a painless muscular incoordination that can mark the end of a musician's professional career. The present literature review intends to highlight the current understanding of musician's focal dystonia, its underlying neural mechanisms and the role of prevention and treatment in physiotherapy, psychotherapy and other fields as occupational therapy.</span></div></div><div><h3>Purpose</h3><div>The aim of the present literature review was to gain an overview of mFD in the medical, psychological and physical therapy literature and investigate what strategies for diagnosis and rehabilitation are available today.</div></div><div><h3>Study design</h3><div>The present article is a literature review, based on the search for full-text publications with the goal of comparing the main strategies for mFD rehabilitation and prevention presented in the literature.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This literature review compared many relevant papers and studies available in literature today for mFD epidemiology, neural mechanisms, treatment and prevention, to discuss what we know today and highlight the aspects that can still be enhanced in the future.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>According to our results, current literature gives a good understanding of mFD epidemiology, but further studies are needed to fully comprehend the neurological aspects and develop more rehabilitation strategies, especially in the psychological field. Our research also highlighted the need for a multidisciplinary approach that considers both physical and psychological aspects.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Physical rehabilitation strategies are helpful but, considering the amount of psychological aspects involved in mFD, a holistic approach should be considered and developed in the future. Finally, prevention must have a primary role in mFD treatment, raising awareness around it and, possibly, avoiding its development.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54814,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Hand Therapy","volume":"37 4","pages":"Pages 616-624"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141472791","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Short and long-term outcomes of multidimensional physiotherapy in cases with acute compartment syndrome secondary to carbon monoxide poisoning with prolonged forearm compression","authors":"Barış Seven PT, PhD , Burak Ertürk PT, MSc , İlke Keser PT, PhD , Deran Oskay PT, PhD","doi":"10.1016/j.jht.2023.12.015","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jht.2023.12.015","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Compartment syndrome following carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning and compression, can have a devastating impact on neuromuscular structures, depending on a time-based dosage.</div></div><div><h3>Purpose</h3><div>To investigate multidimensional physiotherapy's short-term and long-term outcomes in identical twin cases who developed compartment syndrome due to CO poisoning and prolonged compression.</div></div><div><h3>Study Design</h3><div>Case report.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div><span>This study was conducted with two male cases, a 21-year-old identical twin. The loss of consciousness due to CO poisoning lasted for 15 hours. Case one had compartment syndrome that caused damage to the median and </span>ulnar nerves<span> in the right forearm, while Case two had compartment syndrome that caused damage to the radial nerve in the left forearm. No surgical intervention was performed (Fasciotomy etc).</span></div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div><span>The disability, dexterity, hand health status, sensory-motor function, and edema were evaluated. Initial evaluations showed severe sensory and motor dysfunction, disability, and edema. Treatment included Complex decongestive physiotherapy, </span>electrical stimulation<span>, therapeutic ultrasound, orthotics, and exercises. On the 144th day (discharge day), both cases still exhibited weakness in functional strength and sensory loss compared to the uninjured side. At the ninth month, all parameters except strength were similar to the uninjured side in both cases. By the 53rd month, strength also reached normal values.</span></div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Multidimensional physiotherapy effectively manages edema, improves sensory-motor function, and enhances hand function in the short and long term.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54814,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Hand Therapy","volume":"37 4","pages":"Pages 677-686"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141538949","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sujin Hwang PhD , Kyoung-Chul Min PhD , Chiang-Soon Song PhD
{"title":"Assistive technology on upper extremity function for stroke patients: A systematic review with meta-analysis","authors":"Sujin Hwang PhD , Kyoung-Chul Min PhD , Chiang-Soon Song PhD","doi":"10.1016/j.jht.2023.12.014","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jht.2023.12.014","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>In stroke rehabilitation, the selection of appropriate assistive devices is of paramount importance for patients. Specifically, the choice of device can significantly influence the functional recovery of the upper limb, impacting their overall activities or functional tasks.</div></div><div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>This review aimed to comprehensively analyze and summarize the clinical evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) regarding the therapeutic effects of commonly used assistive devices on upper extremity function in patients with stroke.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>To evaluate assistive devices for patients with stroke, we summarized qualitatively throughout synthesis of results, such as therapeutic intervention, intensity, outcome, and summary of results, and examined risk of bias, heterogeneity, mean difference, 95% confidence interval, and I-squared value. To analyze, we used RoB 2 and RevMan 5.4.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div><span>The qualitative synthesis included 31 RCTs. The randomization process and the reporting of results showed minimal bias, but there were issues with bias from intended interventions, and missing outcome data presented some concerns. The quantitative synthesis included 16 RCTs. There was a significant difference in the Fugl-Meyer assessment-upper extremity functioning (FMA-UE) scores between the groups, with a total mean difference (95% confidence interval) of 2.40 (0.21, 4.60), heterogeneity values were Tau</span><sup>2</sup> = 0.32, chi-square = 8.22, degrees of freedom = 8 (<em>p</em> = 0.41), and <em>I</em><sup>2</sup> = 3% for FMA-UE and the test for the overall effect produced <em>Z</em> = 2.14 (<em>p</em> = 0.03) in patients with chronic stroke. However, there was no significant difference in all other outcome measures.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Upper-limb robots did not demonstrate significant superiority over conventional treatments in improving function of upper limbs, with the exception of FMA-UE scores for patients with chronic stroke. The mean difference of FMA-UE was also lower than minimally important difference. Nonetheless, the usage of upper-limb robots may contribute to enhanced function for patients with stroke, as those devices support clinicians and enable a greater number of movement repetitions within specific time frames.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54814,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Hand Therapy","volume":"37 4","pages":"Pages 507-519"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141144233","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mohamed H. ElGendy PhD (Professor of Physical Therapy) , Sarah A. Fetoh MSc (Assistant Lecturer) , Shaimaa E. Salem PhD (Lecturer of Physical Therapy) , Baher A. Daihom PhD (Lecturer of Pharmacy) , Ebtesam M. Fahmy PhD (Professor of Neurology) , Mohamed M. ElMeligie PhD (Lecturer of Physical Therapy)
{"title":"Effectiveness of chitosan phonophoresis on ulnar nerve conduction velocity, pain relief, and functional outcomes for mild to moderate cubital tunnel syndrome: A double-blind randomized controlled trial","authors":"Mohamed H. ElGendy PhD (Professor of Physical Therapy) , Sarah A. Fetoh MSc (Assistant Lecturer) , Shaimaa E. Salem PhD (Lecturer of Physical Therapy) , Baher A. Daihom PhD (Lecturer of Pharmacy) , Ebtesam M. Fahmy PhD (Professor of Neurology) , Mohamed M. ElMeligie PhD (Lecturer of Physical Therapy)","doi":"10.1016/j.jht.2024.02.006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jht.2024.02.006","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Cubital tunnel syndrome<span> (CBTS) impairs hand function, with limited conservative options often leading to surgery. Chitosan neuroregenerative effects delivered via phonophoresis provide a rationale for testing this emerging treatment approach.</span></div></div><div><h3>Purpose</h3><div><span>The primary goal of this research was to assess the impact of chitosan phonophoresis on the conductivity of the </span>ulnar nerve, as well as its effects on pain levels and functional outcomes in individuals diagnosed with mild to moderate CBTS.</div></div><div><h3>Study design</h3><div>Double-blind randomized controlled trial.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div><span>This was a prospective, double-blinded, randomized controlled study. The participants consisted of 54 individuals aged between 20–35 years who were randomly assigned using block randomization. The control group (</span><em>n</em> = 27) received standard hand therapy alone, while the experimental group (<em>n</em><span><span> = 27) received both standard hand therapy and chitosan phonophoresis. Both groups underwent three treatment sessions per week, each lasting for 60–72 minutes, over a period of five weeks. Pre- and post-intervention evaluations included assessments of ulnar </span>nerve conduction<span> velocity (NCV), pain assessment using the numerical pain rating scale (NPRS), as well as hand function evaluated using the Quick Disabilities of Arm Shoulder Hand (QuickDASH) questionnaire.</span></span></div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>After the intervention, the experimental group significantly improved in all outcome measures compared to the control group. Accordingly, ulnar NCV (MD = 2.233 m/sec; CI = 1.63:2.83; <em>p</em> < 0.001; <em>η</em><sup>2</sup><sub>p</sub> = 0.516), NPRS (MD = −1.11; CI = −1.71: −0.50; <em>p</em> < 0.001; <em>η</em><sup>2</sup><sub>p</sub> = 0.208) and QuickDASH (MD = −2.72; CI = −4.54:0.87; <em>p</em> < 0.007; <em>η</em><sup>2</sup><sub>p</sub> = 0.133).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The study findings suggest that chitosan phonophoresis may have the potential as a supplementary treatment to hand therapy for individuals with mild to moderate CBTS. This approach demonstrated significant improvements in nerve conduction, pain reduction, and enhancement of hand function.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54814,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Hand Therapy","volume":"37 4","pages":"Pages 653-661"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140061343","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}