Comparison of the effectiveness of ultrasound and transfer energy capacitive and resistive (TECAR) therapy in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Transfer Energy Capacitive and Resistive (TECAR) therapy on pain, symptom severity and function in patients diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and to compare it with ultrasound (US) therapy. A total of 42 patients aged between 18 and 65 years, were divided into two groups; group 1 received US therapy, group 2 received TECAR therapy. Both groups received paraffin therapy and wrist orthosis. All Patients were evaluated using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain and paresthesia levels, the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ) for symptom severity and functional levels. Additionally, median nerve cross sectional area (CSA) was measured by ultrasound, at the baseline, post-treatment, first and third months. According to our results, VAS and BCTQ (symptom and function) scores significantly improved in both groups during follow-ups (all p < 0.01). However, there was no significant difference between the groups other than the VAS score at 3 months. At 3 months, Group 1 had a lower VAS score than Group 2 (p = 0.013). In Group 1, median nerve CSA decreased significantly after treatment (p < 0.001), and it was maintained during the first- and third-months follow-ups (p = 0.002 and p = 0.006, respectively). In Group 2, median nerve CSA decreased after treatment (p = 0.017) compared to before treatment and it returned to baseline levels in the third month (p = 0.770). While TECAR therapy may be beneficial in lowering pain and improving symptoms and functions in CTS patients, its effects were not as long-lasting as US. Clinical trial number: NCT06451094.