The Effects of Laser and Ultrasound Therapy on Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Background: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common compressive neuropathy of upper limb and one of the causes of disability. The conservative management of CTS includes splints, intracarpal steroids and ultrasound therapy. Recently Low- energy Laser Therapy has been popularized in the treatment various treatment including carpal tunnel syndrome. We compared the effects of both of these therapies in a randomized trial. Objectives: To compare the effects of laser versus ultrasound therapy on carpal tunnel syndrome Methods: A total of hundred patients of unilateral carpal tunnel syndrome diagnosed clinically and electrophysiologically were included in the study and divided in two equal groups. One group was treated by UltrasoundTtherapy (1MHz, 1.0 Watt/cm(2)) and the other group by Low Level Laser Therapy (830 nm infrared). Patients were blinded to the two types of treatment. Treatment Outcome was measured subjectively by Visual analogue scale, functional status scale and Symptom Severity Scale for gravity of symptoms. Objectively outcome was measured electrophysiologically before and after the treatment. Results: Improvement was more marked in ultrasound treated group than laser treated group. Pain relief on Visual Analogue Scale, Symptom Severity Scale and Functional Status Scale was 2.30 points, 0.44 and 0.34 points more in Ultrasound treated group as compared to Laser treated group. Electrophysiologically improvement in Sensory Latency and Motor Latency was 0.46 ms and 0.62 ms more in ultrasound treated group. P value was less than 0.001 Conclusion: Ultrasound treatment proved to be more effective than Laser treatment.