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NCT Number: NCT07358507

EFFECTS OF NERVE GLIDING EXERCISES ON ULNAR-SIDED WRIST PAIN

The purpose of this study is to learn if adding specific "nerve gliding" exercises to a standard physical therapy program helps reduce pain and improve hand function in people with ulnar-sided (pinky side) wrist pain.

Participants who have had wrist pain for at least 3 months will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. Both groups will receive a standard treatment program that includes patient education, activity modification, massage, and ice application. One group will also perform specific nerve gliding exercises for the ulnar nerve.

Researchers will evaulate pain level, hand function, strength, weight-bearing tolerance, and joint position sense at the beginning and after 4 weeks of treatment to see if the exercises provide extra benefit. The study treatment period lasts for 4 weeks.

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Key information

Conditions

Ulnar Wrist Pain

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Gazi University Health Sciences Faculty Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Department

Ankara, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

Ceren Zorluogullari

CONTACT

[email protected]

+905068674887

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Being over 18 years of age.
  • History of ulnar-sided wrist pain lasting for at least 3 months.
  • Diagnosis of ulnar-sided wrist pain confirmed by a hand surgeon, which may include: fractures or dislocations of the 4th and 5th metacarpals, hamate, triquetrum, lunate, pisiform, distal ulna, or distal radius; Lunotriquetral ligament tears; Kienböck's disease; Ulnar impaction syndrome; Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex (TFCC) injury; carpal instabilities; DRUJ instability; pisotriquetral arthritis; DRUJ arthritis; extensor carpi ulnaris (ECU) tendon subluxation; or tendinitis of the ECU, extensor digiti minimi, and flexor carpi ulnaris.
  • Adequate cognitive level (scoring 22 or above on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment scale).

Exclusion criteria

  • Presence of other diseases involving the hand and wrist (e.g., carpal tunnel syndrome, Dupuytren's disease).
  • History of traumatic injury to the hand, wrist, and/or forearm within the last 3 months.
  • History of surgery on the hand, wrist, and/or forearm within the last 6 months.
  • Currently receiving treatment for hand and wrist problems.

Treatment and study plan

Ulnar Nerve Gliding Exercises

Other

Ulnar nerve gliding exercises will be performed twice a week in the clinic for 4 weeks. Participants will also perform these exercises as a home program 3 times daily.

Conventional Physiotherapy

Other

Includes patient education, activity modification, classic massage along the ulnar nerve trace, and ice application (10-12 minutes) at the end of each session.

Primary outcomes

  1. Pain Level

    Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 weeks

    Pain level will be evaluated using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain at rest, during activity, and at night.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Wrist Function

    Time frame: Baseline and 4 weeks.

    Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation (PRWE) questionnaire (0-100 scale, higher scores indicate greater disability)

  2. Grip Strength

    Time frame: Baseline and 4 weeks

    Measured with a Jamar hydraulic hand dynamometer in kg (average of 3 trials)

  3. Wrist Strength

    Time frame: Baseline and 4 weeks

    Wrist flexion and extension strength will be measured with handheld dynamometer.

  4. Weight Bearing Tolerance

    Time frame: Baseline and 4 weeks

    Measured in kg using an analog scale where participants apply maximum force with the wrist.

  5. Joint Position Sense

    Time frame: Baseline and 4 weeks.

    Measured as degrees of deviation from a 30° target position using a goniometer.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Ceren Zorluogullari

CONTACT

[email protected]

+905068674887

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Gazi University

Other

Collaborators

  • Ankara University

Registry information

Official study title

Investigation of the Effects of Nerve Gliding Exercises on Pain, Function, Joint Position Sense and Weight-Bearing Tolerance in Patients With Ulnar-Sided Wrist Pain

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Jan 22, 2026
Registry last updated
Jan 22, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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