Analysis of the effect of short-wave diathermy on cervicalgias of university students

Abstract

Introduction: Neck pain, is common in several age groups, with a high prevalence in painful body syndromes, being considered the second major cause of pain in the spine. One of the therapeutic possibilities for such pain is the application of heat through short-wave equipment, one of the physiological effects being the dilation of the blood vessels that favors the elimination of catabolites. Objective: To verify possible alterations in cervical pain in college students, using continuous short-wave diathermy with inductive technique. Methods: Twenty students were divided into two groups of ten participants each, being one treated group and the other placebo, the participants were evaluated through the Visual Analogue Pain Index (VAS) and through the Index Neck Disability (NDI). Results: Both groups presented pain reduction by VAS, as well as reduction in some subtopics and total NDI score. Conclusion: The use of continuous short-wave diathermy inductively did not improve cervical pain better than placebo.