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Effectiveness of Neurodynamic Techniques for the Treatment of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Interventions
Other: Neurodynamic techniques
Other: Exercise therapy
Registration Number
NCT03243227
Lead Sponsor
University of Jordan
Brief Summary

Carpal tunnel syndrome CTS is the most common peripheral neuropathy seen in clinic. It results in marked functional limitations of patients. Most patients undergo surgical release which places a heavy burden on health system. Neurodynamic exercise is claimed to be an effective physiotherapy treatment for these patients. It is a practical and complications-free treatment which can be used as a home exercise program. This study aims to investigate the effect of median nerve gliding exercise on symptoms severity and functional limitation in CTS patients.

Detailed Description

* Design: Two groups randomized controlled trial

* Participants: 50 subjects diagnosed with CTS will be recruited from JUH physical medicine and rehabilitation department, diagnosis will be confirmed by a physician clinically and using nerve conduction test. Subjects will be randomized into treatment and control groups.

* Procedures: Participants will be recruited from the physical medicine department at JUH and the diagnosis and initial assessment will be performed by a physician. Baseline outcomes will be measured by an experienced physiotherapist.

Treatment Group: Neurodynamics evaluation and treatment will be provided by an experienced physiotherapist. Each treatment session involves both manual therapy and median nerve mobilization exercise following the neurodynamics concept. Four 60 minutes sessions over a period of four weeks will be performed for each patient. Median nerve mobilization exercise will be continued as home exercise program and will be monitored by the treating physiotherapist using exercise diary.

Control group: four sessions of exercise will be given to participants. CTS standard exercise brochure will be given for the patients to follow over 4 weeks. The brochure will include wrist joint strengthening, stretching and AROM exercise.

Outcomes will be measured at the end of the 4 weeks treatment, 6 weeks and 6 months post treatment.

• Data analysis: Microsoft Excel and SPSS will be used for data entry and analysis.

Descriptive analysis: All obtained data will be tabulated, means, standard deviations and differences will be measured.

Inferential analysis: Two way repeated measure ANOVA will be used to measure differences between the groups.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
53
Inclusion Criteria

Confirmed CTS diagnosis

Exclusion Criteria

Previous trauma or surgery involving the upper extremities known neurological condition pregnancy history of radiating neck or back pain in the previous 3 months

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Neurodynamic techniquesNeurodynamic techniques4 sessions of Neurodynamics treatment will be provided by an experienced physiotherapist. It will include manual therapy, median nerve gliding exercise, median nerve tension exercise. patients will continue the exercises as home exercise program during and after the treatment period.
ExerciseExercise therapyExercise therapy 4 sessions of exercise treatment will be provided by an experienced physiotherapist. It will include active range of motion, stretching, and strengthening exercise. patients will be given a brochure to continue the exercises as home exercise program during and after the treatment period.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire scoreBaseline, 1 month, 6 months

BCTS is a patient-based outcome measure used for patients with CTS. It includes two distinct scales, the Symptom Severity Scale (SSS) which has 11 questions and uses a five-point rating scale and the Functional Status Scale (FSS) containing 8 items which have to be rated for degree of difficulty on a five-point scale. Each scale generates a final score (sum of individual scores divided by number of items) which ranges from 1 to 5, with a higher score indicating greater disability.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
The Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) ScoreBaseline, 1 month, 6 months

DASH is a patient-based outcome measure used to assess function in patients with arm or hand pain. it includes two components: the disability/symptom

Pain severity scaleBaseline,1 month , 6 months

subjective rating of pain severity is specified by patient as a number from 0-10. the higher the number the greater level of pain

Wrist ROMBaseline, 1 month , 6 months

Range of movement of the wrist joint is measured using universal goniometer. All wrist joint movements will be measured actively and passively.

Grip strengthBaseline, 1 month, 6 months

Hand grip strength is measured using a hand held dynamometer device. Reading is taken in pounds.

Surgery6 months

whether or not the patient decided to undergo median nerve decompression surgery

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

The University of Jordan

🇯🇴

Amman, Jordan

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