Rheumatology international
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Assessment of the effectiveness of interferential current therapy and TENS in the management of carpal tunnel syndrome: a randomized controlled study.
We assessed the effectiveness of interferential current (IFC) and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) therapies in the management of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) compared with splint therapy, a standard treatment modality for CTS. This was a prospective, single-blinded, single-center, randomized, three-group parallel intervention study of 3 weeks duration. Efficacy was examined in the third week after the end of treatments. ⋯ There was no statistically significant difference between TENS and splint therapy with respect to improvement in clinical scores, whereas IFC therapy provided a significantly greater improvement in VAS, mMDL, and mSNCV values than splint therapy (VAS: 4.80 ± 1.18 and 6.37 ± 1.18; p = 0.001, mMDL: 3.89 ± 0.88 and 4.06 ± 0.61; p = 0.001, mSNCV: 41.80 ± 1.76 and 40.75 ± 1.48; p = 0.010). IFC therapy provided a significantly greater improvement in VAS, symptom severity, functional capacity, and mMDL and mSNCV values than TENS therapy (VAS: 4.80 ± 1.18 and 6.68 ± 1.42; p < 0.001, symptom severity: 2.70 ± 1.03 and 3.37 ± 1.21; p = 0.015, functional capacity: 1.90 ± 1.21 and 2.50 ± 0.78; p = 0.039, mMDL: 3.89 ± 0.88 and 4.06 ± 0.88; p = 0.003, and mSNCV: 41.80 ± 1.76 and 41.38 ± 1.78; p = 0.021). IFC may be considered a new and safe therapeutic option for the treatment of CTS.