Analysis of Neuromodulation as a Complementary Treatment to Evidence-based Clinical Intervention in Subjects With Musculoskeletal Pathology of the Upper Limb: a Double-blind Randomized Clinical Trial

SHORT FORM 12 HEALTH SURVEY (SF-12)

时间窗: Baseline and up to one year

The SF-12 questionnaire is composed of a subset of 12 items derived from the SF-36, with the physical and mental components being scored as the only items. Depending on the item, response options range from 3 to 6, with each question receiving a value that is subsequently transformed into a scale of 0 to 100. All scores have a mean of 50, with values above or below 50 indicating better or worse health status, respectively, compared to the reference population.

EUROQOL-5D (EQ-5D)

时间窗: Baseline and up to one year

It consists of a generic instrument for measuring health-related quality of life (HRQoL), which consists of two parts: a descriptive system for assessing health status (ranging from 1, meaning "I have no problems" to 3, "many problems") and a visual analogue scale (ranging from 0, which is the worst imaginable health status, to 100, which is the best imaginable health status).

DISABILITIES OF ARM, SHOULDER AND HAND (DASH)

时间窗: Baseline and up to one year

It consists of a self-administered questionnaire that assesses the upper limb as a functional unit and allows for the quantification and comparison of the impact of the different processes affecting different regions of the limb. It consists of a core of 30 items and two optional modules with four items each. Each item is scored from 1 to 5, with higher scores corresponding to greater symptom intensity. The final score can range from 30 to 150 points, with a scale of 0 (best possible score) to 100 (worst possible score). The optional modules are scored separately.

UPPER LIMB FUNCTIONAL INDEX (ULFI)

时间窗: Baseline and up to one year

This is a 25-item questionnaire that measures upper limb function. Patients are asked to answer YES if they can perform the action (1 point) and NO if they cannot perform it (0 points). There is also a HALF option (partially perform it), which is worth 0.5 points. The score is then obtained by summing the responses and is finally converted into a 100-point percentage scale.

International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ)

时间窗: Baseline and up to one year

An instrument designed to measure physical activity levels in an adult population and serve as a reference for making recommendations regarding physical activity. It comes in two versions: the long version with 31 items (IPAQ-LF) and the short version with 9 items (IPAQ-SF). The short version, which will be used in this study as recommended by the authors, measures activity at four intensity levels, ranging from 1 (vigorous activity) to 4 (sedentary).

Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)

时间窗: Baseline and up to one year

It consists of an 11-point numerical scale, ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (maximum pain intensity), which serves as a quantification for measuring pain intensity. It has moderate to good reliability.

RANGE OF MOTION

时间窗: Baseline and up to one year

Range of motion refers to the number of degrees through which a joint is capable of moving. To measure the elbow's flexion-extension range, the flexion and extension movements are recorded with the arms at the sides and the elbows fully extended. For the forearm, supination and pronation movements are measured with the arm relaxed. For the shoulder, the degrees of flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, and internal and external rotation are measured with the patient in a seated position. Finally, to measure flexion, extension, and radial and ulnar deviations at the wrist, the hand is placed on a flat surface. Measurements are taken with an electronic goniometer, and the patient will be asked to cooperate in determining the pain limit.

MUSCULAR STRENGTH

时间窗: Baseline and up to one year

Isometric muscle strength will be assessed using a dynamometer.