Ashour AA et al., 2023 · Journal of hand therapy : official journal of the American Society of Hand Therapists
Single-blind randomized controlled trial. High-intensity laser therapy (HILT) was recently introduced to the physiotherapy field as a treatment option for patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). However, evidence about its effectiveness on pregnant women with CTS is sparse. To test the effectiveness of HILT combined with a conventional physical therapy program to reduce pain intensity, sensory and motor nerve distal latency, and increase grip strength in pregnant women with CTS compared with the physical therapy alone. Fifty-four pregnant women with mild to moderate CTS were randomized and further allocated into two groups. The HILT group (n = 27) received both HILT and conventional physical therapy, and the control group (n = 27) received only physical therapy, including nerve and tendon gliding exercises and the use of an orthotic device. Participants received the interventions at the University Hospital (omitted for review) three times per week for 5 weeks. An 11-points numerical pain rating scale, electromyography, and a handheld dynamometer were used for data collection before and after the treatment. Participants from both groups presented significant improvement in the median nerve motor nerve distal latency (MNDL), sensory nerve distal latency, numerical pain rating scale, and handgrip strength after the intervention. The between-group difference showed more improvements in participants of the HILT group on reducing pain intensity, mean difference (MD) = -3.11 (-4.1 to 2.1), and sensory nerve distal latency, MD = -0.3 (-0.5 to -0.1) compared with the control group. HILT produced greater improvement in outcomes of pregnant women with mild to moderate CTS whichsuggests that adding HILT to traditional CTS physical therapy protocol is beneficial and safe. High-intensity laser therapy combined with a standard physical therapy program for CTS in pregnant women is better than the physical therapy program alone to improve pain intensity and median nerve sensory distal latency.
Emerging Therapies · Light Therapy
Botla AM et al., 2024 · Photobiomodulation, photomedicine, and laser surgery
This study was conducted to ascertain the efficacy of photo acupuncture (PA) on the neurophysiological parameters of the median nerve and hand function in postnatal women. Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) has been documented in up to 62% of pregnant females. PA, a noninvasive treatment that utilizes photo therapy on acupoints, could aid in the management of CTS. Material and Thirty-six postpartum women diagnosed with CTS depending on their medical history, physical examination, and electrodiagnostic study were distributed into two equal-sized groups at random. The PA group (n = 18) received PA for 12 min on the following acupuncture points: PC4, PC6, PC7, PC8, HT2, HT3, HT7, LI10, LI11, LI4, LU9, and LU10. The treatment was given 3 times weekly for four weeks; in addition, night splints were worn. Women in the control group (n = 18) just wore night splints. Before and after the 12-session treatment, each woman was assessed using an electrodiagnostic test to measure the motor distal latency (MDL), sensory distal latency (SDL), motor conduction velocity (MCV), sensory conduction velocity (SCV), pinch dynamometer for assessing pinch strength, and the Brief Michigan Hand Questionnaire (BMHQ) for assessing hand function. A statistically significant improvement was observed in both groups after therapy regarding SDL, SCV, MDL, MCV, pinch strength, and BMHQ (p < 0.05) in favor of the PA group. Adding PA to a night splint should be suggested as an effective conservative therapy for CTS in postpartum women.
Emerging Therapies · Light Therapy
Traverzim MA et al., 2021 · Photobiomodulation, photomedicine, and laser surgery
Pain during labor can be a barrier when choosing vaginal delivery. In an attempt to relief pain during labor, several pharmacological and nonpharmacological methods are proposed. To assess the effect of light-emitting diode (LED) photobiomodulation on analgesia during labor. A clinical trial was conducted with 29 women who were divided into two groups: G1 (experimental group-LED) and G2 (control group-hot shower). In the experimental group, an LED plate with red and infrared merged [red 660 ± 20 nm, 5 mW/cm2, 3 J per LED (108 J) and infrared 850 ± 20 nm, 5 mW/cm2, 3 J per LED (108 J), total energy = 216 J] was placed on the subjects' dorsal region, at the level of T10 to S4, for 10 min, with the plate automatically turning off. Hot shower at controlled temperature was offered for 30 min. To verify the effect of LED on analgesia during labor, the following variables were assessed: (1) perception of pain, (2) fetal well-being assessed by cardiotocography or intermittent auscultation of fetal heart rate, (3) Apgar score at minutes 1 and 5 after birth, and (4) labor duration. There was a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) in pain reduction evidenced by a millimetric visual scale, before and after application on G1-LED (7.92 ± 1.78). Regarding the other variables, there was no statistical difference between the groups when comparing fetal well-being, Apgar score and labor duration. It is concluded that LED can be considered an alternative, since it caused pain reduction without changing other parameters during labor, compared with hot shower, a method included in hospital protocols, proving to be safe. Clinical NCT03496857.