OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of steroid iontophoresis (SI) and electrotherapy (ET) on bicipital tendonitis. METHODS: Forty-seven patients with bicipital tendonitis, diagnosed by ultrasonography, were all treated with hot packs (15 minutes), ultrasound (1.5 w/cm2, five minutes), and a standard exercise program. They were also divided randomly into two experimental groups. One group received SI (0.5% hydrocortisone acetate given with the negative electrode, 3 to 4 mA galvanic current, 15 minutes). The second group was treated with ET (interferential current, 0 to 100 Hz, 15 minutes). All patients were evaluated at pre-treatment, post-treatment, and one month later with the following assessment tools: pain (pain at rest, with normal activities, and with strenuous activities) with a numeric scale (0 to 10), range of motion (ROM) with goniometry and with the ROM items of Constant's Shoulder Scale, patient satisfaction with a numeric scale (0 to 10), and disability by using the function section of the Pennsylvania Shoulder Scale. RESULTS: All of the assessment parameters revealed statistically significant improvement at post-treatment and one month later (p < 0.05) in the SI group. The ET group experienced less dramatic improvement in the immediate post-treatment (p < 0.05) assessment and the durability of benefit was less than with SI. CONCLUSIONS: Application of SI to the conventional physical therapy for patients with biceps tendonitis seems to provide a better and more prolonged clinical and functional improvement.
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