The Comparison of Therapeutic Ultrasound and Laser Therapy in Treatment of Mild to Moderate Carpal Tunnel Syndrome:A Randomized Clinical Trial

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is the most common compressive neuropathy of the upper limb and one of the causes of disability. The current study aimed to compare the therapeutic effects of Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) and therapeutic ultrasound (US) in patients with mild to moderate carpal tunnel syndrome.

This single-blind randomized trial was conducted on 30 patients with CTS (58 wrists) who were randomly assigned to two treatment groups: laser therapy group (15 patients, 29 wrist (and Ultrasound therapy group (15 patients, 29 wrists). Low-level laser therapy (9 joules, 808 nm infrared laser at five points) and Ultrasound treatment (1 MHz, 1.5 W/cm2, duty cycle 20%, 5 min/session) were applied to the carpal tunnel for 10 daily treatment sessions (5 sessions/week). Outcome measures were Visual analogue scale, pinch & grip strength and Boston questionnaire (BQ), which measured before and after treatment (the end of the study). The pair and independent t-test were used to evaluate the variables.

In both groups (laser therapy and Ultrasound therapy), there was a significant improvement in visual analog scale (P=0.000 and P=0.000, respectively), grip strength (P=0.01 and P=0.004, respectively), and pinch strength (P=0.001 and P=0.009, respectively). The results of the Boston Questionnaire also demonstrated an improvement (P=0.000 and P=0.000, respectively) at the end of the study, compared to baseline values. However, there was no significant difference in any of the measured variables between the two treatment groups.

As evidenced by the obtained results, both low-level laser therapy and ultrasound are effective in the reduction of pain and improvement of hand function in patients with mild-to-moderate CTS in the short-term.