Effect of Matrix Rhythm Therapy (MaRhyThe®) Versus Conventional Physiotherapy on Hand Mobility and Function in Individuals with Postoperative Hand Tendon Injuries: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

Introduction: Postoperative hand tendon injuries often lead to complications, such as stiffness, limited hand mobility, and impaired function, warranting effective rehabilitation. Matrix Rhythm Therapy (MaRhyThe®) is a novel physiotherapy method used in treating various soft tissue disorders. Objective: This pilot randomized controlled trial comparatively evaluated the impact of MaRhyThe® and conventional physiotherapy on hand mobility and function in individuals recovering from postoperative hand tendon injuries. Materials and Methods: Twenty Participants underwent a 2-week intervention program with 4 clinic-based sessions per group. Sessions were conducted every third day, with 2-day home exercise intervals between sessions. Group A (n = 10) received 60 min of MaRhyThe® while Group B (n = 10) received 5 min of conventional physiotherapy (therapeutic ultrasound). The range of motion (ROM) of the wrist and fingers, hand function measured by the Action Research Arm Test (ARAT), and pain levels using the Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) were assessed: pre-intervention (before session 1) and immediately post-intervention (after session 4). Results: Both MaRhyThe® and therapeutic ultrasound significantly improved hand mobility, function, and pain. Group A showed greater mean improvements and larger effect sizes across most outcomes compared to Group B. Wrist flexion improved by 19.5° (d = 1.23) in Group A versus 7° (d = 1.11) in Group B. ARAT total scores increased by 15.2 points (d = 1.04) in Group A and 12.9 points (d = 0.88) in Group B. Pain (NPRS) decreased by 3.1 points in Group A (d = 2.59) and 3.0 points in Group B (d = 3.18). Between-group comparisons favoured MaRhyThe® with significant gains in wrist and finger ROM and lower post-treatment pain scores. Conclusion: MaRhyThe® demonstrated superior post-treatment outcomes across most ROM parameters, with greater pain relief. These pilot findings support further investigation of MaRhyThe® in hand tendon rehabilitation protocols. Keywords: Physical Therapy Modalities, Hand Injuries, Tendon Injuries, Rehabilitation, Postoperative Care, Matrix Rhythm Therapy.