The Effectiveness of High-Intensity Laser Therapy (HILT) on de Quervain's Tenosynovitis: A Randomized, Double-Blinded (Patient and Assessor), Controlled Trial

Abstract

<h3>Research Objectives</h3> To investigate the added-on effect of high-intensity laser therapy (HILT) over standard treatment (splinting and exercise) in patients with de Quervain's tenosynovitis. <h3>Design</h3> Experimental study, randomized by computer generating sequence with block of four method, allocation concealment, double-blinded (patient and assessor), controlled trial. Total 6 weeks duration of the study for each participant. <h3>Setting</h3> Out-patient clinic at department of rehabilitation medicine, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital. <h3>Participants</h3> Nineteen subjects; ten in intervention group and nine in control group. <h3>Interventions</h3> First 3 weeks; high-intensity laser therapy (HILT) in intervention group and sham HILT in control group. Both groups were instructed hand exercise and thumb spica splint wearing along total 6 weeks of the study. <h3>Main Outcome Measures</h3> Visual analog scale (VAS) and grip strength at baseline (before HILT or sham HILT), after laser treatment (3rd week of the study), and 3 weeks after laser treatment (6th week of the study). <h3>Results</h3> Both groups demonstrated statistically significant improvement in VAS compared with baseline. However, there was no statistically significant difference of GS in both groups. And there was no statistically significant difference between groups for both outcomes. <h3>Conclusions</h3> There is no additional benefit of HILT on reducing pain and improving hand functional outcome in patients with de Quervain's tenosynovitis over the standard treatment of thumb spica splint and exercise. <h3>Author(s) Disclosures</h3> No conflicts of interest have been declared.