The Effectiveness of Physical Therapy Modalities in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

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

Status

Completed

Phases

Study type

Interventional

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT03061149

Enrollment

Registered

2017-02-23

Start date

2009-03-30

Completion date

2016-11-12

Last updated

2017-02-23

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Brief 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.

Detailed 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.

Interventions

OTHERLow-level laser therapy

OTHERUltrasound treatment

Study design

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

PARALLEL

Primary purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE (Investigator)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Age

35 Years to 60 Years

Healthy volunteers

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

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame	Description
The measurement of hand grip strength in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome after physical therapy	14 days	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.

Countries

Poland

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026