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Updated: Jun 27, 2026
06:40
Screening of Axonal Degeneration in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Using Ultrasonography and Nerve Conduction Studies
Published on: January 11, 2019
Suggested variations on standard carpal tunnel syndrome assessment tests
1Orthopedic Massage Education & Research Institute, Sisters, OR 97759, USA. wlowe97@gmail.com
Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies
|December 17, 2008
Summary
Carpal tunnel syndrome diagnosis can be improved for manual therapists. Combining orthopedic tests with neurodynamic principles enhances the sensitivity of physical examination methods for median nerve compression.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Orthopedics
- Manual Therapy
Background:
- Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common peripheral neuropathy.
- Manual therapists frequently encounter patients with CTS.
- Accurate diagnostic methods for CTS are limited, especially for manual practitioners lacking high-tech tools.
Purpose of the Study:
- To enhance the diagnostic accuracy of physical examination for CTS in manual therapy settings.
- To explore the utility of combining standard orthopedic tests with neurodynamic principles for identifying median nerve compression.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing orthopedic special tests for CTS.
- Integration of neurodynamic principles into standard orthopedic testing procedures.
- Assessment of modified tests for improved sensitivity in detecting median nerve entrapment.
Main Results:
- Standard orthopedic tests show some predictive value for CTS.
- Modifying these tests with neurodynamic principles increases their sensitivity.
- Enhanced testing aids in identifying median nerve compression neuropathy.
Conclusions:
- Manual therapists can improve CTS diagnosis by incorporating neurodynamic principles into physical examinations.
- Modified orthopedic tests offer a more sensitive approach to identifying median nerve compression.
- This approach provides a practical, accessible diagnostic enhancement for manual practitioners.
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