Application of shortwave diathermy to lower limb increases arterial blood flow velocity and skin temperature in women: a randomized controlled trial.

The participants were healthy, physically active young women with no circulatory or nervous disease, and people taking antipyretics, with lower-limb pain, injury or surgery, or menstruating were excluded. The trial measured only skin temperature and popliteal artery blood flow velocity, not patient-important outcomes such as pain, function, tissue healing, or adverse events. The supplied text does not report dropouts or whether all 40 participants completed every crossover step. Participants were told that one application would not generate heat, and full participant blinding is not clearly described. Microwave diathermy was applied to the hamstring but blood flow was measured more distally at the popliteal fossa, which may limit interpretation of the microwave blood-flow result. Temperature change and arterial blood flow velocity did not correlate, so the measured heating did not explain the measured flow changes.

The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The supplied text does not report funding or sponsor involvement.

Do not read the increased popliteal artery flow as evidence that diathermy improves patient outcomes. The study measured only short-term physiological changes in healthy young women, and microwave diathermy did not increase measured popliteal artery flow.