Efficacy of Mechanical Interference Versus Neural Mobilization on Ulnar Neuropathy Post Cubital Tunnel Syndrome: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Ulnar nerve neuropathies are the second most common entrapment neuropathy of the upper extremities after carpal tunnel syndrome. Cubital tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a condition that involves pressure or stretching of the ulnar nerve also known as the "funny bone" nerve, which could cause numbness or tingling in the ring and tiny fingers, pain in the forearm, and hand weakness. The ulnar nerve runs in a groove on the inner side of the elbow. Conservative treatment of cubital tunnel syndrome is recommended for patients with mild and moderate symptoms and without changes in cutaneous sensation or muscle atrophy. In addition, a wide variety of conservative approaches including corticosteroid injections as a minimally invasive technique and splinting and bracing failure were recommended for CTS depending on its severity. Manual therapy techniques are part of the physical therapy treatment of CTS, which are classified into two groups including nerve mobilization and mechanical interface mobilization. The aim of the study was to find which manual therapy method-technique directed to mechanical interface and nerve mobilization-has superior beneficial effects on clinical and electrophysiological findings in the conservative management of patients with CTS. Ninety patients with post-cubital syndrome will be allocated randomly to three groups; the first experimental one will receive mechanical interference, the second experimental will receive neural mobilization and the third one will receive conventional treatment for four weeks.