A double-blind, randomized controlled clinical trial conducted by Stanford University researchers has demonstrated that pulsed shortwave therapy provides sustained pain relief in adults with thumb carpometacarpal joint osteoarthritis, one of the most common and painful forms of hand arthritis. The study, involving 61 adults with clinically diagnosed thumb CMC osteoarthritis, compared outcomes between participants using an active PSWT device and those using an identical-appearing sham device over a four-week treatment period. Both groups wore their devices for approximately eight hours each night during the treatment phase, and both reported meaningful pain reduction at the four-week mark. However, the critical finding emerged after device use was discontinued. At week six, only the PSWT group maintained its pain relief, while the sham group lost their improvement. The difference in pain reduction between PSWT and sham groups at this point was highly statistically significant with a p value of .02, indicating that the benefits were not solely explained by splinting effects or placebo response.
Thumb arthritis affects an estimated 4-7 million U.S. adults and makes everyday tasks like turning doorknobs, buttoning shirts, or opening jars difficult. Current treatment options are limited, often involving splints, medications, or injections. The study abstract can be viewed at https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/15589447251371088. Beyond pain reduction, other measures including maximum pain, hand function assessed through the Patient-Rated Wrist/Hand Evaluation, and single-assessment numeric evaluation scores improved in both groups during the treatment period. The research team noted that PSWT was found to be safe and well tolerated, with adverse events being infrequent and mild, most commonly minor skin irritation from adhesive tape. No serious adverse events occurred during the study.
The study investigators stated that these findings suggest PSWT may offer true sustained analgesic benefit for thumb osteoarthritis. PSWT represents a non-invasive electromagnetic therapy designed to reduce pain and improve quality of life in patients with chronic musculoskeletal conditions. Unlike medications, PSWT has no systemic side effects and can be self-administered at home, potentially changing how healthcare providers approach treatment for this widespread condition. BioElectronics Corporation, the developer of the technology, maintains information at https://www.bielcorp.com/. This research matters because it provides evidence for a new, effective, and safe treatment modality for a condition that significantly impairs daily function for millions, offering a potential alternative to current limited options that often involve medications with side effects or invasive procedures.
