Efficacy of two forms of electrical stimulation in increasing quadriceps strength: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether electrical stimulation is effective in improving quadriceps strength in healthy subjects and to compare interferential and low-frequency current in terms of the effects on quadriceps strength and perceived discomfort. DESIGN: Randomized, controlled study. SETTING: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department in a university hospital. SUBJECTS: Thirty medical faculty students, divided into three groups, participated in the study. INTERVENTIONS: Group A received electrical stimulation with bipolar interferential current while group B received electrical stimulation with low-frequency current (symmetrical biphasic). Group C served as the control group. Electrical stimulation was given for 15 minutes, five days a week for three weeks, at a maximally tolerated intensity with the knee fully extended in the sitting position. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Before and after the study, quadriceps strength was measured with a Cybex dynamometer isokinetically at the angular velocities of 60 degrees/s and 120 degrees/s. The perceived discomfort experienced with each type of electrical stimulation was quantified by the use of a visual analogue scale (VAS). RESULTS: Statistically significant increase in isokinetic strength was observed after training in group A and group B. Increase in strength did not differ between the stimulation groups. No significant change in strength occurred in group C. Perceived discomfort by the stimulation groups was not significantly different. CONCLUSION: Both interferential and low-frequency currents can be used in strength training with the parameters used in this study.

Treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome with nerve and tendon gliding exercises.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of nerve and tendon gliding exercises in carpal tunnel syndrome. DESIGN: The study was a prospective, randomized, before-and-after treatment trial. A total of 28 patients with the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome in 36 hands were randomly assigned to two groups. A custom made neutral volar wrist splint was given to group 1 and group 2. The patients were instructed to wear the splints all night and during the day as much as possible for 4 wk. The patients in group 2 were also instructed to perform series of nerve and tendon gliding exercises in addition to the splint treatment. Patients were evaluated with clinical parameters, a functional status scale, and a symptom severity scale. RESULTS: At the end of treatment, statistically significant improvement was obtained in all parameters in both groups. The improvement in group 2 was slightly greater, but the difference between the groups was not significant, except for the lateral pinch strength value. Patient satisfaction was investigated during the follow-up period, ranging from 5 to 11 mo, with a mean of 8 mo. A total of 72% of the patients in group 1 and 93% of the patients in group 2 reported good or excellent results. The difference between the two groups was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Although the results in group 2 were better than group 1, the difference was not statistically significant. Further investigations are required to establish the role of nerve and tendon gliding exercises in the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome.