NCT01838954

Short-wave Diathermy in Patients With Osteoarthritis of the Hand

The Effect of Short-wave Diathermy in Patients With Osteoarthritis of the Hand: A Randomized, Double Blinded, Placebo Controlled Trial

• Status: Unknown
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 90 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Medical University of Vienna · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Due to constant strain the joints of the hands are frequently affected by osteoarthritis (OA). Short-wave diathermy (SWD) is a form of electromagnetic therapy, which causes movement of ions, distortion of molecules, and creation of eddy currents and as a result heat is produced in deep tissue. Its claimed mechanism of action includes inducing an anti-inflammatory response, reducing joint stiffness, stimulating connective tissue repair, and reducing muscle spasm and pain. Since the available studies were performed to study the large weight-bearing joints only, there is a lack in scientific evidence for the efficacy of SWD in hand OA. The aim of this randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled study is to evaluate the effect of SWD on: joint function in patients with hand OA. joint pain in patients with hand OA. grip strength in patients with hand OA. quality of live in patients with hand OA.

Conditions

• Hand Osteoarthritis

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DEVICE	Short-wave diathermy	Device operating at a frequency of 27.12 MHz in continuous mode with an effective nominal output of 400 W in the patient circuit.

Timeline

• Start date: 2012-03-01
• Primary completion: 2016-04-01
• Completion: 2016-09-01
• First posted: 2013-04-24
• Last updated: 2015-04-10

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Austria