Article

Therapeutic ultrasound is an often-used clinical modality in the
nonsurgical treatment of entrapment neuropathies. To date, the possible mechanism
of action of pulsed ultrasound therapy on the peripheral nerve in the treatment
of entrapment neuropathies is unclear. OBJECTIVE:
To examine the effects of
pulsed ultrasound therapy on peripheral nerve conduction parameters. DESIGN: A
prospective, randomized, single blind, crossover study.
SETTING: Outpatient
clinic of a university department of physical medicine and rehabilitation.
PARTICIPANTS: Twelve healthy volunteers between 22 and 38 years of age (8 male, 4
female). METHODS: Each patient (blinded) received ultrasound therapy (1W/cm2,
pulsed: 1:5; over the course of the superficial branch of the radial nerve of the
nondominant arm) and placebo (intensity: zero). The interval between the
individual interventions was 1 week. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENT: The sensory nerve
conduction velocity, sensory nerve action potential, supramaximal stimulation
intensity of the sensory fibers of the radial nerve, and the pressure pain
threshold in the sensory area of the radial nerve before and after an
ultrasound-therapy and placebo intervention. To compare the results of the
intervention with placebo, a paired-samples t test was applied. RESULTS: Compared
with placebo, a significant increase after pulsed ultrasound therapy was found
for the supramaximal stimulation intensity (P = .02). For the other primary
outcome parameters, a significant difference was not found. CONCLUSIONS: The
immediate effect of pulsed ultrasound therapy on a sensory nerve is minimal.
Therefore, the previously reported benefit of pulsed ultrasound therapy in
entrapment neuropathies might be not due to its effect on the sensory nerve.
LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: I.
CI - Copyright (c) 2017 American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS