Effect Of Shock Waves Therapy On Post Natal De Quarvain Tenosynovitis

November 7, 2026 updated by: Mai Kamel Anwar, Cairo University

This randomized controlled trial aims to investigate the effect of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) on pain, wrist and thumb range of motion, and upper limb function in postpartum women with De Quervain's tenosynovitis.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

De Quervain's tenosynovitis is a musculoskeletal condition affecting the abductor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis brevis tendons within the first dorsal compartment of the wrist. It is associated with pain, tenderness, restricted thumb and wrist movement, and difficulty performing daily activities. Postpartum women may be particularly affected because of repetitive wrist and thumb movements associated with infant care.

Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) is a non-invasive treatment modality being investigated for its potential effects on pain reduction and functional recovery in musculoskeletal disorders.

This study is designed as a prospective randomized controlled trial involving 40 postpartum women diagnosed with De Quervain's tenosynovitis. Participants will be randomly allocated into two equal groups of 20 women each.

The study group will receive extracorporeal shock wave therapy combined with a therapeutic exercise program consisting of tendon gliding, stretching, and strengthening exercises.

The control group will receive the same therapeutic exercise program without shock wave therapy.

Outcome assessments will be conducted before and after the treatment period. Pain intensity will be evaluated using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), wrist and thumb range of motion will be measured using a goniometer, and upper limb function will be assessed using the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire.

The study will compare changes within and between the two groups to evaluate the additional effect of shock wave therapy on pain, range of motion, and upper limb function in postpartum women with De Quervain's tenosynovitis.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
40

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

  • Name: Elham Shahat Hassan, PhD

Study Locations

  • Egypt
      • Giza, Egypt
        • Kasr El Ainy University Hospital
        • Contact:

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

25 years to 35 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

Female

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Women in the postpartum period of > 6 months following labor
  2. Age: Between 25 and 35 years old.
  3. Body mass index: Between 25-30 kg / m2
  4. Diagnosis: Clinically diagnosed with De Quervain tenosynovitis by an orthopedic specialist or confirmed through clinical evaluation.
  5. Pain Severity: Presenting with moderate to severe pain (≥ 4 on the Visual Analogue Scale).
  6. Obstetric History: Multipara women (Cesarean section or normal labor)
  7. Stage of Condition Chronic stage: symptoms > 6 weeks

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Previous Surgery: History of surgical intervention on the affected wrist or thumb.
  2. Skin Conditions: Open wounds, infections, or dermatological diseases at the application site that may interfere with shockwave therapy.
  3. Pregnancy: Pregnant or lactating women.
  4. Medication Use: Currently taking systemic corticosteroids, anticoagulants, or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that may influence study outcomes.
  5. Pacemaker or Metal Implants: Presence of a cardiac pacemaker or metal implants near the treatment area.
  6. Other Physiotherapy: Receiving concurrent physiotherapy treatment for the same condition during the study period.
  7. Non-compliance: Inability or unwillingness to attend treatment sessions or follow instructions throughout the study duration.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Shock Wave Therapy + Therapeutic Exercises

Twenty postpartum women with De Quervain's tenosynovitis will receive extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) in addition to a therapeutic exercise program consisting of tendon gliding, stretching, and strengthening exercises. The exercise program will be performed for 30 minutes daily over four weeks.
Device: Shock Wave Therapy

Extracorporeal shock wave therapy will be applied to the affected first dorsal compartment of the wrist using a radial shock wave device. Treatment parameters will include 1,000 impulses per session, with frequencies ranging from 18 to 21 Hz and pressure settings ranging from 1.4 to 1.8 bar, according to the study protocol.

Other Names:
  • Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT)
Other: Therapeutic Exercises

A structured therapeutic exercise program consisting of tendon gliding, stretching, active range-of-motion exercises, and progressive strengthening exercises targeting the wrist and thumb. Exercises will be performed for 30 minutes daily over four weeks, according to participants' tolerance.
Active Comparator: Therapeutic Exercises

Twenty postpartum women with De Quervain's tenosynovitis will receive a therapeutic exercise program consisting of tendon gliding, stretching, and strengthening exercises for 30 minutes daily over four weeks, without shock wave therapy.
Other: Therapeutic Exercises

A structured therapeutic exercise program consisting of tendon gliding, stretching, active range-of-motion exercises, and progressive strengthening exercises targeting the wrist and thumb. Exercises will be performed for 30 minutes daily over four weeks, according to participants' tolerance.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Pain Intensity Measured by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)
Time Frame: 4 weeks

Pain intensity will be measured using a 10-cm Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst imaginable pain). Lower scores indicate less pain. Changes in pain intensity will be compared between the study and control groups.
4 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Wrist Flexion Range of Motion
Time Frame: 4 weeks

Change in active wrist flexion range of motion, measured in degrees using a universal goniometer. The change will be calculated as the post-treatment measurement minus the baseline measurement.
4 weeks
Wrist Extension Range of Motion
Time Frame: 4 weeks

Change in active wrist extension range of motion, measured in degrees using a universal goniometer. The change will be calculated as the post-treatment measurement minus the baseline measurement.
4 weeks
Wrist Radial Deviation Range of Motion
Time Frame: 4 weeks

Change in active wrist radial deviation range of motion, measured in degrees using a universal goniometer. The change will be calculated as the post-treatment measurement minus the baseline measurement.
4 weeks
Wrist Ulnar Deviation Range of Motion
Time Frame: 4 weeks

Change in active wrist ulnar deviation range of motion, measured in degrees using a universal goniometer. The change will be calculated as the post-treatment measurement minus the baseline measurement.
4 weeks
Thumb Flexion Range of Motion
Time Frame: 4 weeks

Change in active thumb flexion range of motion, measured in degrees using a universal goniometer. The change will be calculated as the post-treatment measurement minus the baseline measurement.
4 weeks
Thumb Extension Range of Motion
Time Frame: 4 weeks

Change in active thumb extension range of motion, measured in degrees using a universal goniometer. The change will be calculated as the post-treatment measurement minus the baseline measurement.
4 weeks
Thumb Abduction Range of Motion
Time Frame: 4 weeks

Change in active thumb abduction range of motion, measured in degrees using a universal goniometer. The change will be calculated as the post-treatment measurement minus the baseline measurement.
4 weeks
Thumb Adduction Range of Motion
Time Frame: 4 weeks

Change in active thumb adduction range of motion, measured in degrees using a universal goniometer. The change will be calculated as the post-treatment measurement minus the baseline measurement.
4 weeks
Upper Limb Disability Measured by DASH Questionnaire
Time Frame: 4 weeks

Upper limb function and disability will be assessed using the 30-item Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire. The total score ranges from 0 (no disability) to 100 (maximum disability). Lower scores indicate better upper limb function.
4 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Cairo University

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Study Chair: Hala Mohamed Hanafy, PhD, Professor, Cairo University
  • Study Director: Sameh Hussien Samir, PhD, Professor, National Research Centre
  • Study Director: Elham Shahat Hassan, PhD, Ass. Professor, Cairo University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
November 20, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
January 20, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
January 31, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
November 7, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
November 7, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
November 13, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
November 13, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
November 7, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
November 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • P.T.REC/012/006319

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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