Investigation of the Effectiveness of Cervicothoracic Exercises in Individuals With Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: Conventional Physiotherapy Group, Cervicothoracal Exercise Group.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS). Basic parameters: from 18 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Turkey (Türkiye)
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Official title
Karpal Tünel Sendromu Olan Bireylerde Servikotorakal Egzersizlerin Etkinliğinin Araştırılması
Overview
This randomized, parallel-group controlled clinical trial aims to investigate the effects of adding cervicothoracic exercises to conventional physiotherapy on pain, functional status, grip strength, and range of motion in individuals with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). CTS is a common compressive neuropathy of the median nerve, characterized by pain, numbness, tingling, nocturnal symptoms, and reduced hand function. Sixty adults diagnosed with CTS will be randomly allocated into two groups (n=30 each): a conventional physiotherapy group and a cervicothoracic exercise plus conventional physiotherapy group. The conventional physiotherapy program includes transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), therapeutic ultrasound, median nerve mobilization, wrist range-of-motion exercises, and strengthening exercises. The intervention group will receive the same conventional physiotherapy program in addition to cervicothoracic exercises targeting cervical mobility, scapular stabilization, and thoracic spine mobility. The intervention will be applied five days per week for six weeks. Outcome measures will be assessed at baseline and at the end of week 6. Primary outcomes include pain intensity measured by the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), functional status assessed using the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ), and grip strength measured with a Jamar hand dynamometer. Secondary outcomes include upper extremity function evaluated using the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire and wrist and finger range of motion measured with a goniometer. Data will be analyzed using appropriate statistical methods, with statistical significance set at p\<0.05. This study aims to determine whether adding cervicothoracic exercises to conventional physiotherapy provides additional clinical benefits in CTS rehabilitation.
Interventions
- Other Conventional Physiotherapy Group
Participants will receive a conventional physiotherapy program consisting of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), therapeutic ultrasound, median nerve mobilization, wrist range-of-motion exercises, and hand strengthening exercises. TENS will be applied using sensory-level stimulation without muscle contraction. Therapeutic ultrasound will be delivered over the carpal tunnel region using standard clinical parameters. Median nerve mobilization and wrist exercises will be performed u - Other Cervicothoracal Exercise Group
Participants will receive cervicothoracic exercises in addition to the same conventional physiotherapy program. The cervicothoracic exercise program will include cervical mobility exercises, scapular stabilization, and thoracic spine mobility exercises designed to improve proximal neural mechanics and upper limb function. All interventions will be supervised by a physiotherapist and applied five days per week for six weeks.
Primary outcome measures
- Boston Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Questionnaire [Time frame: Assessment will be taken initially and after the intervention (for 6 weeks, 5 days a week).]
- Visual Analog Scale [Time frame: Assessment will be taken initially and after the intervention (for 6 weeks, 5 days a week).]
Secondary outcome measures (3)
- Disabilities of the Arm Shoulder and Hand (DASH) [Time frame: Assessment will be taken initially and after the intervention (for 6 weeks, 5 days a week).]
- Jamar Hydraulic Hand Dynamometer (Hand Grip Strength) [Time frame: Assessment will be taken initially and after the intervention (for 6 weeks, 5 days a week).]
- Goniometer (Wrist Range of Motion) [Time frame: Assessment will be taken initially and after the intervention (for 6 weeks, 5 days a week).]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Age over 18
- Symptom duration of at least 12 weeks,
- Information about carpal tunnel syndrome received from a physician,
- Positive Tinel or Phalen test in carpal compression test,
- Pain intensity, Visual Analog Scale, at least 40 mm out of 100 mm
Exclusion criteria
- Any sensory or motor deficit in the ulnar or radial nerve
- History of previous surgery or injection in the wrist
- Trauma to the neck, shoulder, or upper extremity
- Pregnancy
- Concurrent cervical radiculopathy or polyneuropathy
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: No
Study design
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Model
- Parallel assignment
- Masking
- Open label
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
Study locations
Turkey (Türkiye) · 2 centers
- Istanbul Medipol University Pendik Hospital — Istanbul
- Istanbul Medipol University & Istanbul Medipol University Pendik Hospital — Istanbul
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07410819 · IMU-FTR-ZK-01