NCT01789645

Physical Therapy in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Efficacy of Conservative Versus Surgical Therapy for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: a Randomised Clinical Trial

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 120 (actual)
• Sponsor: Universidad Rey Juan Carlos · Academic / Other
• Sex: Female
• Age: 18 Years – 65 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

It is a randomized clinical trial comparing surgical and conservative (physical therapy) treatments for women with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). The purpose of the study is to determine the efficacy of physical therapy versus endoscopic surgery in pain and disability in women with carpal tunnel syndrome at medium and long-term follow-up periods. We hypothesized that proper physical therapy approach can be equally effective than surgical intervention for improving pain and function in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome.

Detailed description

Scientific evidence for the management of CTS has exhibited conflicting results. The Cochrane review concluded that surgical treatment relieves symptoms significantly better than splinting but further research is needed. A systematic review focused on physical therapy for the management of CTS included 6 studies and found weak to strong effect of neural gliding exercises. Recent studies have revealed complex nociceptive mechanisms involved in CTS which should be carefully considered during the management of these patients. Proper physical therapy interventions can modulate nociceptive processes found in CTS. We will perform a randomized clinical trial nested within a prospective cohort as our study design to determine if proper physical therapy approach targeted to modulate sensitization processes is equally effective than surgical intervention for improving pain and function in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome.

Conditions

• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Conservative group	The conservative group will received 3 treatment sessions of physical therapy based on neuromodulation of nociceptive processing of 30 minutes of duration, once per week.
PROCEDURE	Surgical group	The surgical group will receive the surgical procedure consisting of the decompression and release of the median nerve at the carpal tunnel performed by an experienced surgeon according to standardized protocols.

Timeline

• Start date: 2013-02-20
• Primary completion: 2014-01-25
• Completion: 2019-01-28
• First posted: 2013-02-12
• Last updated: 2019-08-15

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Spain