Constant Versus Ascending Radial Pressure Wave Therapy for Pain Management in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Pilot Exploratory Study
4 affiliations
- 1Servicio de Medicina Física y Rehabilitación, Hospital Civil de Guadalajara Fray Antonio Alcalde, Guadalajara 44200, Mexico
- 2Centro Universitario de Tlajomulco, Universidad de Guadalajara, Tlajomulco de Zúñiga 45641, Mexico
- 3Hospital Civil de Oriente, Tonalá 45425, Mexico
- 4Centro Universitario de Tonalá, Universidad de Guadalajara, Av. Nuevo Periférico No. 555, Ejido San José Tateposco, Tonalá 45425, Mexico
Abstract
Background/Objectives: This exploratory report compares two radial pressure wave therapy (RPWT) regimens for carpal tunnel syndrome and describes clinical trajectories and observations relevant to future trial design. The statistical plan and the selection of the 2-month comparison followed inspection of the study data. Methods: Fifty-one participants were randomized (25 constant, 26 ascending; NCT07070661). Seven left the study (six ascending, one constant); forty-three contributed clinical scores. Both arms received three weekly sessions and the same home exercise program; pressure, frequency, and theoretical emission duration differed jointly. The main exploratory comparison was between-regimen pain change at 2 months. Results: The pain difference (ascending minus constant) was −0.54 points on the numeric pain rating scale (NPRS, 0–10; 95% CI −2.14 to 1.06), and observed mean NPRS decreased from baseline to 2 months in both arms: from 6.50 to 4.04 in the constant arm and from 6.37 to 3.37 in the ascending arm. Descriptive observations included asymmetric attrition (six of seven departures in the ascending arm) and observed baseline imbalance (grip strength SMD 0.624; symptom duration 28.7 versus 39.2 months). Three participants had early indications for carpal tunnel release. Conclusions: Although mean pain improved in both groups, these non-conclusive pilot data establish neither superiority nor equivalence. The observed improvement cannot be attributed to the RPWT device because both groups received exercises and no sham or exercise-only control was included. These findings inform a definitive trial with stratified randomization and an appropriate comparator.
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BibTeX
@article{avilagarcia2026constant,
title = {{Constant Versus Ascending Radial Pressure Wave Therapy for Pain Management in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Pilot Exploratory Study}},
author = {Armando Tonatiuh Ávila-García and Ana Lilia Villagrana-Rodríguez and Elba Janette Ledezma-Miramontes and Emmanuel Mercado-Nuñez and Martha Alejandra García-Casillas and Erick José Ontiveros-Castellanos and Karen Chacón-Morales and Daniel Miller-Serrano and Diana Hazel Araiza-Quintana and Luis Fernando Herrera-Fuentes and Judith Carolina De Arcos-Jiménez and Jaime Briseno-Ramirez},
journal = {Journal of Clinical Medicine},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/jcm15218209},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/15/21/8209},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Constant Versus Ascending Radial Pressure Wave Therapy for Pain Management in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Pilot Exploratory Study
AU - Armando Tonatiuh Ávila-García
AU - Ana Lilia Villagrana-Rodríguez
AU - Elba Janette Ledezma-Miramontes
AU - Emmanuel Mercado-Nuñez
AU - Martha Alejandra García-Casillas
AU - Erick José Ontiveros-Castellanos
AU - Karen Chacón-Morales
AU - Daniel Miller-Serrano
AU - Diana Hazel Araiza-Quintana
AU - Luis Fernando Herrera-Fuentes
AU - Judith Carolina De Arcos-Jiménez
AU - Jaime Briseno-Ramirez
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/22
JO - Journal of Clinical Medicine
DO - 10.3390/jcm15218209
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/15/21/8209
AB - Background/Objectives: This exploratory report compares two radial pressure wave therapy (RPWT) regimens for carpal tunnel syndrome and describes clinical trajectories and observations relevant to future trial design. The statistical plan and the selection of the 2-month comparison followed inspection of the study data. Methods: Fifty-one participants were randomized (25 constant, 26 ascending; NCT07070661). Seven left the study (six ascending, one constant); forty-three contributed clinical scores. Both arms received three weekly sessions and the same home exercise program; pressure, frequency, and theoretical emission duration differed jointly. The main exploratory comparison was between-regimen pain change at 2 months. Results: The pain difference (ascending minus constant) was −0.54 points on the numeric pain rating scale (NPRS, 0–10; 95% CI −2.14 to 1.06), and observed mean NPRS decreased from baseline to 2 months in both arms: from 6.50 to 4.04 in the constant arm and from 6.37 to 3.37 in the ascending arm. Descriptive observations included asymmetric attrition (six of seven departures in the ascending arm) and observed baseline imbalance (grip strength SMD 0.624; symptom duration 28.7 versus 39.2 months). Three participants had early indications for carpal tunnel release. Conclusions: Although mean pain improved in both groups, these non-conclusive pilot data establish neither superiority nor equivalence. The observed improvement cannot be attributed to the RPWT device because both groups received exercises and no sham or exercise-only control was included. These findings inform a definitive trial with stratified randomization and an appropriate comparator.
SN - 2077-0383
ER -