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Carpal tunnel |
Low – Level- Laser Therapy In Mild
And Moderate CTS – A Double Blind, Randomised
Study
Th. Rappl, Ch. Laback, St Quasthoff, M. Auer-Grumbach,
R. Gumpert, E. Scharnagl
The aim was to evaluate the LLLT in CTS (ENG: < 6,9
ms) monitored by EMG and VAS (Visual
Analogous Scale) recordings. 72 hands with CTS
treated by LLLT (15 sessions/30 min, over a
period of 5 weeks) were evaluated by a double blind
– randomised study. ENG and VAS (visual
analogous scale) were performed prior to and after
LLLT.
LLLT (wavelength 830 nm, 400 mW) with an energy of
3J per point focused on the Carpal –
tunnel, on trigger and acupuncture – points was
performed in 38 cases, in 38 cases (control –
group) we used a red light pen. Follow-up ranged
from 8 to 12 months. ENG and VAS improved
in 66%, didn’t change in 8% and got worse in 26% in
the LLLT group after a 12 month period. No
improvement was recorded in the control group.
The results suggest that LLLT can
be recommended in mild or average CTS (ENG < 4,9 ms)
especially if a conservative treatment is required.
Successful Management Of Female
Office Workers With "Repetitive Stress Injury" Or
"Carpal Tunnel Syndrome" By A New Treatment
Modality- Application Of Low Level Laser
E. Wong G LEE J. Zu CHERMAN and D. P. MASON
Western Heart Institute and St. Mary's Spine Center
St. Mary's Medical Center. San Francisco.
CA. USA and Head and Neck Pain Center, Honolulu HL.
USA
Abstract. Female office workers with desk jobs who
are incapacitated by pain and tingling in the
hands and fingers are often diagnosed by physicians
as "repetitive stress injury'' (RSI) or "carpal
tunnel syndrome'' (CTS). These patients usually have
poor posture with their head and neck
stooped forward and shoulders rounded; upon
palpation. they have pain and tenderness at the
spinous processes C5 - T1 and the medial angle of
the scapula. In 35 such patients we focused
the treatment primarily at the posterior neck area
and not the wrists and hands. A low level laser (100
mW) was used and directed at the tips of the spinous
processes C5 - Tl. The laser rapidly
alleviated the pain and tingling in the arms, hands
and fingers. and diminished tenderness at the
involved spinous processes. Thereby, it has become
apparent that many patients labeled as
having RSI or CTS have predominantly cervical
radicular dysfunction resulting in pain to the
upper extremities which can be managed by low level
laser. Successful long-term management
involves treating the soft tissue lesions in the
neck combined with correcting the abnormal head,
neck and shoulder posture by taping. Cervical
collars, and clavicle harnesses as well as improved
work ergonomics.
Successful management of female
office workers with "repetitive stress injury" or
"carpal tunnel syndrome" by a new treatment
modality- application of low level laser
E. Wong G LEE J.
Zu CHERMAN and D. P. MASON
Western Heart
Institute and St. Mary's Spine Center St. Mary's
Medical Center. San Francisco. CA. USA and Head and
Neck Pain Center, Honolulu HL. USA
Abstract. Female office workers with desk jobs who are
incapacitated by pain and tingling in the hands and
fingers are often diagnosed by physicians as
"repetitive stress injury'' (RSI) or "carpal tunnel
syndrome'' (CTS). These patients usually have poor
posture with their head and neck stooped forward and
shoulders rounded; upon palpation. they have pain
and tenderness at the spinous processes C5 - T1 and
the medial angle of the scapula. In 35 such patients
we focused the treatment primarily at the posterior
neck area and not the wrists and hands. A low level
laser ( 100 mW) was used and directed at the tips of
the spinous processes C5 - Tl. The laser rapidly
alleviated the pain and tingling in the arms, hands
and fingers. and diminished tenderness at the
involved spinous processes. Thereby, it has become
apparent that many patients labeled as having RSI or
CTS have predominantly cervical radicular
dysfunction resulting in pain to the upper
extremities which can be managed by low level laser.
Successful long-term management involves treating
the soft tissue lesions in the neck combined with
correcting the abnormal head, neck and shoulder
posture by taping. cervical collars, and clavicle
harnesses as well as improved work ergonomics.
Manuscript
received: July, 1997
Accepted for
publication: September, 1997
LASER THERAPY,
1997:9: 131- 136
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