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NCT Number: NCT03582735

Preoperative Neuromobilization Exercises for Individuals With Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome is one of the major known disorders of the wrist and hand that causes pain, tingling sensations, weakness of the hand and functional limitations in daily tasks (for example: handling objects with the hands). In the early stages of the syndrome, some individuals may benefit from wearing wrist splint or cortisone infiltration. For those with ongoing symptoms, surgery is often indicated. However, some individuals may experience worsening of their condition while waiting for surgery. To aid those individuals, physiotherapists often recommend exercises that aim to "glide" the nerve inside the arm. Specifically, these exercises involve arm and neck movements in a specific order, with the aim of improving the motion of the median nerve in relation with its environment. These nerve gliding exercises may have a favorable effect on the median nerve and may improve pain and upper limb functional abilities. In this study, the investigators aim to evaluated the feasibility and effects of a preoperative nerve gliding exercises completed by individuals undergoing surgery

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Key information

Conditions

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Cumulative Trauma Disorders Median Neuropathy Mononeuropathies Nerve Compression Syndromes Nervous System Diseases Neuromuscular Diseases Peripheral Nervous System Diseases Sprains and Strains Wounds and Injuries

Age range

18 year–70 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de l'Université de Montréal

Montreal, Quebec, H2X 0A9, Canada

About this study

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is a common disorder characterized by alterations of the median nerve integrity at the carpal tunnel. The syndrome is classically recognized by chief complains of nocturnal or intermittent pain and paresthesia involving the median nerve sensory territory of the hand. In more severe condition, worsening of pain and paresthesia as well as thenar muscle atrophy may be present and lead to disability.

Many conservative treatments for CTS are available. Yet, the current literature only support the use of wrist splints and cortisone infiltration, which have been shown to provide only temporary relief for many individuals. Those with ongoing symptoms or severe conditions are often offered carpal tunnel decompression surgery. However, the costs related to the surgery and the increasing delays on waiting lists warrants the need for better conservative management. A preoperative rehabilitation exercise program based on nerve gliding exercise is advocated by physical therapists to manage physical impairments and functional limitations associated with CTS. These exercises can be implement at low cost in the setting of an home-based program.

The investigators aim to examine the feasibility and the efficacy of a preoperative home rehabilitation program based on nerve gliding exercises completed by individuals with carpal tunnel Syndrome waiting for decompression surgery.

In this trial, individuals awaiting carpal tunnel decompression surgery will be randomly allocated to either complete a preoperative nerve-gliding exercise program (experimental group) or no intervention (control group). Thirty participants confirmed with CTS by their attending hand surgeons and enlisted for carpal tunnel decompression will be recruited for this study conducted at the hospital of the Université de Montréal (CHUM), Montreal, Quebec, Canada. All individuals enrolled in the study will be prioritized on the surgical waiting list to receive their surgery five weeks after initiating the study in order to ensure consistency between different timeframes of the study.

The effects of the nerve-gliding exercise program will be assessed at baseline (T0) using standardized questionnaires, quantitative ultrasound measurements (including static and dynamic evaluations) of the median nerve, pinch grip strength and will be repeated after four weeks (T1; preoperative period) and four weeks following surgery (T2; postoperative period).

Feasibility metrics will be analyzed using descriptive statistics. A significant interaction between the group allocation (experimental vs. control) and time (T0 vs. T1 vs. T2) on the main outcomes will be evaluated using two-way mixed ANOVAs.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • EMG confirmed diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome
  • Listed for carpal tunnel decompression

Exclusion criteria

  • Previous trauma or surgery impairing motion of the upper limb
  • Diabetes
  • Thyroid disease
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Recent pregnancy (< 3 months)
  • Unable to communicate in English or French

Treatment and study plan

Nerve gliding exercise

Other

A 4-week home-based nerve-gliding exercise program (NGEP) including isolated and coupled upper limb and neck movements. A specific mobilization was elaborated for each week of the program allowing to gradually increase the range of movement and inter-articular coordination.

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in different pain-related disabilities and cognitive-behavioral factors involved in the experience of pain measured by the West Haven-Yale Multidimensional Pain inventory (WHYMPI)

    Time frame: Baseline (T0), one month (T1), and two months (T2) following randomization

    The WHYMPI is comprised of 52 questions organized into subscales quantifying domains including two subscales specific to pain experience (i.e., pain interference (9 items), and pain severity (3 items)). Each question is rated on a Likert scale ranging from 0 to 6 and a mean score is computed for each subscale. A higher mean score represents higher disability (e.g., very intense pain or extreme interference). The French version of the WHYPMI has been adapted and validated and has demonstrated good repeatability (ICC > 0.75) when tested in adults with chronic musculoskeletal pain (Laliberté et al. 2008, Kerns, Turk, and Rudy 1985). The normalized minimal detectable change (MDC) for the WHYMPI for each of the five WHYMPI subscales range from MDC90%=15.4% (pain interference) to MDC90%=22.8% (emotional distress) (Bergström et al. 1999).

  2. Change upper limb functional abilities measured with the Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) scale

    Time frame: Baseline (T0), one month (T1), and two months (T2) following randomization

    The DASH includes 30 questions covering participation and performance of daily activities with the upper limb as well as symptom severity in individuals with musculoskeletal upper limb disorder. Each question is rated on a Likert scale ranging from 1 to 5, where a higher weighted score (range 0-100) represents substantial functional limitations. The French version of the DASH has been adapted and validated and has demonstrated excellent repeatability (ICC = 0.91) when tested in adults with chronic musculoskeletal pain (Hudak, Amadio, and Bombardier 1996, Durand et al. 2005). The normalized MDC was established (MDC90% = 10.7%) (Greenslade et al. 2004).

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in median nerve cross sectional area at the carpal tunnel inlet measured by quantitative ultrasound imaging

    Time frame: Baseline (T0), one month (T1), and two months (T2) following randomization

    Static images of the median nerve's are acquired in the transverse plane at the level of the carpal tunnel inlet. The cross-sectional area of the median nerve is defined by semi-automatically outlining the inner border of the epineurium and will be assess offline using custom software. Median nerve cross-sectional area measurement has good repeatability ( > 0.88) when performed in asymptomatic adults. The normalized MDC was previously estimated for the cross-sectional area measurement (MDC90% = 6.2%)

  2. Change in median nerve longitudinal excursion at the distal forearm measured by quantitative ultrasound imaging

    Time frame: Baseline (T0), one month (T1), and two months (T2) following randomization

    Cineloops of the median nerve are acquired during passive extension of the wrist using ultrasound imaging at the distal forearm. Three region of interest within the epineurium border are manually drawn and will be assess offline custom software. Median nerve longitudinal excursion has good repeatability ( > 0.84) when performed in a mixed population including asymptomatic individuals and individuals with carpal tunnel syndrome. The normalized MDC was previously estimated for the longitudinal excursion measurement (MDC90% = 34.1%)

  3. Change in pinch grip strength

    Time frame: Baseline (T0), 4th week (T1), and four weeks following surgery (T2)

    Assessment of thumb strength (in kilogram) using hand held dynamometer

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation of Greater Montreal

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Effects of a Preoperative Neuromobilization Program Offered to Individuals With Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Awaiting Carpal Tunnel Release Surgery: a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Important dates

Study start
2015
Primary completion
2018
Study completion
2018
First posted
Jul 11, 2018
Registry last updated
Jan 31, 2019

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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