{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,21]],"date-time":"2026-05-21T04:41:24Z","timestamp":1779338484430,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":42,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"5","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2023,2,28]],"date-time":"2023-02-28T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1677542400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["IJERPH"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: Carpal tunnel syndrome is a neuropathy that affects the median nerve. The aim of this review is to synthesize the evidence and perform a meta-analysis on the effects of iontophoresis in people with carpal tunnel syndrome. Methods: The search was carried out using PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, CINHAL Complete, Physiotherapy Evidence Database, and SciELO. The methodological quality was evaluated using PEDro. A standardized or mean difference meta-analysis (Hedge\u2019s g) using a random-effects model was calculated. Results: Seven randomized clinical trials using iontophoresis for electrophysiological, pain, and functional outcomes were included. The mean of PEDro was 7\/10. No statistical differences were obtained for the median sensory nerve conduction velocity (SMD = \u22120.89; p = 0.27) or latency (SMD = \u22120.04; p = 0.81), motor nerve conduction velocity (SMD = \u22120.04; p = 0.88) or latency (SMD = \u22120.01; p = 0.78), pain intensity (MD = 0.34; p = 0.59), handgrip strength (MD = \u22120.97; p = 0.09), or pinch strength (SMD = \u22122.05; p = 0.06). Iontophoresis only seemed to be superior in sensory amplitude (SMD = 0.53; p = 0.01). Conclusions: Iontophoresis did not obtain an enhanced improvement compared to other interventions, but no clear recommendations could be made due to the limited number of included studies and the heterogeneity found in the assessment and intervention protocols. Further research is needed to draw sound conclusions.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph20054287","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,2,28]],"date-time":"2023-02-28T03:59:57Z","timestamp":1677556797000},"page":"4287","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Use of Iontophoresis with Corticosteroid in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"20","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4267-9958","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Francisco Javier","family":"Martin-Vega","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Nursing and Physiotherapy, University of Cadiz, 11009 Cadiz, Spain"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4589-4442","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Maria Jesus","family":"Vinolo-Gil","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Nursing and Physiotherapy, University of Cadiz, 11009 Cadiz, Spain"},{"name":"Rehabilitation Clinical Management Unit, Interlevels-Intercenters Hospital Puerta del Mar, Hospital Puerto Real, Cadiz Bay-La Janda Health District, 11006 Cadiz, Spain"},{"name":"Research Unit, Department Biomedical Research and Innovation Institute of Cadiz (INiBICA), Puerta del Mar University Hospital, University of Cadiz, 11009 Cadiz, Spain"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5850-3055","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Gloria","family":"Gonzalez-Medina","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Nursing and Physiotherapy, University of Cadiz, 11009 Cadiz, Spain"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0921-8263","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Manuel","family":"Rodr\u00edguez-Huguet","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Nursing and Physiotherapy, University of Cadiz, 11009 Cadiz, Spain"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6496-4683","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"In\u00e9s","family":"Carmona-Barrientos","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Nursing and Physiotherapy, University of Cadiz, 11009 Cadiz, Spain"},{"name":"Research Unit, Department Biomedical Research and Innovation Institute of Cadiz (INiBICA), Puerta del Mar University Hospital, University of Cadiz, 11009 Cadiz, Spain"},{"name":"CTS-986 Physical Therapy and Health (FISA), University Institute of Research in Social Sustainable Development (INDESS), 11009 Cadiz, Spain"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2621-2098","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Cristina","family":"Garc\u00eda-Mu\u00f1oz","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Nursing and Physiotherapy, University of Cadiz, 11009 Cadiz, Spain"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,2,28]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"31","DOI":"10.35366\/94621","article-title":"Sensitivity and specificity of three complementary methods in the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome","volume":"34","author":"Aguirre","year":"2020","journal-title":"Acta Ortop. 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