A Cochrane review included 2 studies with a total of 80 participants. Ultrasound to the palmar and dorsal aspect of the hand significantly increased grip strength when compared to a control (WMD 28.07, 95% CI 13.37 to 42.77). Ultrasound to the palmar and dorsal aspects of the hand also appeared to have beneficial effects to the following outcome measures: wrist dorsal flexion (WMD 1.90, 95% CI 0.64 to 3.16), duration of morning stiffness (WMD 28.54, 95% CI 0.18 to 56.90), number of swollen joints (WMD 1.02, 95% CI 0.45 to 1.59) and the number of painful joints (WMD 1.20, 95% CI 0.45 to 1.95). There was no significant difference between a) exercises and wax, b) exercises with ultrasound, c) exercises with ultrasound and faradic hand baths for the following outcome measures: pain score, grip strength, circumference of proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints, articular index, range of motion or level of activity.
Comment: The quality of evidence is downgraded by imprecise results (few patients and wide confidence intervals, limited study size for each comparison) and study quality.