Effectiveness of high-intensity laser application combined with splinting and therapeutic exercise in subacute de Quervain's tenosynovitis: A pilot study.

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to determine the additional effect of high-intensity laser therapy (HILT) when combined with therapeutic exercise and splinting in the treatment of patients diagnosed with de Quervain's tenosynovitis. Nineteen patients diagnosed with de Quervain's tenosynovitis were randomly divided into two groups: the HILT group and the sham HILT group. A total of 9 HILT or sham HILT sessions were administered, with 3 sessions per week for 3 consecutive weeks. Both groups received the thumb spica splint and therapeutic exercise. A comparison was conducted between the two groups, as well as pre- and post-treatment, focusing on the following outcomes: Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain, hand grip strength, and Thai version of Patient-Rated Wrist and Hand Evaluation (PRWHE-Thai) as a disability score. No significant differences were found between the HILT group and the sham group across all evaluated outcomes. However, when examining changes within each group over time, both the HILT and sham groups showed significant reductions in pain and improvements in disability score at the follow-up assessments compared to baseline. On the other hand, no statistically significant differences were observed in grip strength outcomes at any of the measured time points. The combination of HILT with a splint and exercise demonstrates effectiveness as a method for pain management and functional improvement in patients with subacute de Quervain's tenosynovitis. It is important to note that HILT does not offer any additional advantages when compared to the combined use of a splint and exercise.