The Effectiveness of Physical Therapy Modalities in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Clinical Trial

Official title:

The Effects of Nerve and Tendon Gliding Exercises Combined With Low-level Laser or Ultrasound Therapy in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT03061149
• Other study ID #: 1029/08
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• First received: February 14, 2017
• Last updated: February 17, 2017
• Start date: March 30, 2009
• Est. completion date: November 12, 2016

Study information

• Verified date: February 2017
• Source: Poznan University of Medical Sciences
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

Carpal tunnel syndrome is considered to be the most common entrapment neuropathy. Conservative treatment is recommended in the mild and moderate stage of CTS. The aim of this trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of physical therapy modalities in carpal tunnel syndrome.

Description:

Conservative treatment is recommended in the mild and moderate stage of CTS and should involve splinting, steroid injections, oral steroids and ultrasounds .

However, the results of some research studies have showed the beneficial effect of photobiomodulation as well as nerve and tendon gliding exercises in non-operative treatment .

Patients were divided into two groups. The one group received low-level laser therapy (LLLT); the other group underwent ultrasound treatment. Additionally, nerve and gliding exercises were administered in both groups.

The purpose of this trial is to assess the therapeutic efficacy of ultrasound treatment and low-level laser therapy combined with nerve and tendon gliding exercises and to compare the two regimens.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 70
• Est. completion date: November 12, 2016
• Est. primary completion date: February 15, 2014
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: All
• Age group: 35 Years to 60 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• diagnosis of the mild or moderate stage of CTS, symptom duration for more than three months and general good health

Exclusion Criteria:

• advanced CTS, secondary CTS, any previous surgery in the upper limb, steroid injections and any physical therapy treatment within six months prior to the study, pregnancy, cervical radiculopathy, peripheral polyneuropathy or other neurological conditions

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Syndrome

Intervention

Other:
• Low-level laser therapy

• Ultrasound treatment

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Poland	Poznan University of Medical Sciences	Poznan

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Poznan University of Medical Sciences

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Poland, 

References & Publications (6)

Ebenbichler GR, Resch KL, Nicolakis P, Wiesinger GF, Uhl F, Ghanem AH, Fialka V. Ultrasound treatment for treating the carpal tunnel syndrome: randomised "sham" controlled trial. BMJ. 1998 Mar 7;316(7133):731-5. — View Citation

Horng YS, Hsieh SF, Tu YK, Lin MC, Horng YS, Wang JD. The comparative effectiveness of tendon and nerve gliding exercises in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome: a randomized trial. Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2011 Jun;90(6):435-42. doi: 10.1097/PHM.0b013e318214eaaf. — View Citation

Page MJ, O'Connor D, Pitt V, Massy-Westropp N. Therapeutic ultrasound for carpal tunnel syndrome. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013 Mar 28;(3):CD009601. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD009601.pub2. Review. — View Citation

Rozmaryn LM, Dovelle S, Rothman ER, Gorman K, Olvey KM, Bartko JJ. Nerve and tendon gliding exercises and the conservative management of carpal tunnel syndrome. J Hand Ther. 1998 Jul-Sep;11(3):171-9. — View Citation

Shooshtari SM, Badiee V, Taghizadeh SH, Nematollahi AH, Amanollahi AH, Grami MT. The effects of low level laser in clinical outcome and neurophysiological results of carpal tunnel syndrome. Electromyogr Clin Neurophysiol. 2008 Jun-Jul;48(5):229-31. — View Citation

Totten PA, Hunter JM. Therapeutic techniques to enhance nerve gliding in thoracic outlet syndrome and carpal tunnel syndrome. Hand Clin. 1991 Aug;7(3):505-20. Review. — View Citation

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	The measurement of hand grip strength in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome after physical therapy	The Jamar dynamometer (Sammons Preston, Canada) is used to assess hand grip strength; the mean score of three consecutive trials is accepted for each strength measurement. The result is expressed in kilogram [kg]. The evaluation is performed before and after treatment.	14 days