The Effects of Exercise Therapy on Functional Status in Patients with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is one of the most commonly encountered peripheral nerve ending disorders that occurs after compression or strangulation of the median nerve in the wrist tunnel. The functional status is greatly impaired in the daily activities of a patient with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and may cause problems for the subjects. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of exercise therapy on the functional status of patients with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. This study was a single-blind clinical trial on 66 female patients with mild and moderate Carpal Tunnel Syndrome that referred to occupational therapy clinics. Eligible patients were divided into two groups of 33 patients in the intervention and control each. The intervention group, in addition to the common interventions (including medication), received a prescriptive therapeutic treatment, and the control group had common treatments. The Functional status questionnaire or Boston questionnaire was completed in four intervals before, during the intervention (third week), immediately after the intervention and one month after the intervention in the two groups. To analyze the data, independent t-test, paired t-test and general linear model of repeated measure was used in SPSS. Interventions in the intervention group showed a significant difference in functional status (P<0.001) in patients with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Exercise therapy can lead to functional improvement in patients with Carpal Tunnel syndrome.