[Is physiotherapy useful following surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome?]

A prospective follow-up-study of 97 patients operated because of a carpal tunnel syndrome was carried out to investigate postoperative use of physiotherapy. Postoperative 32 patients were treated at least 12 times and 65 patients were not treated physiotherapeuticly. Physiotherapists postoperatively treated by activating joints of fingers and hand. We examined the patients one day preoperative and on an average of 9 months postoperative. Complaints of the patients, local findings, vigorimetrically measured strength and electromyography were registered. The vigorimetrically measured strength of the operated hand improved significantly less in patients treated physiotherapeutically compared to not treated patients. All other complaints and findings improved equally. We interpreted this difference as a result of spare caused by awareness of a sick hand.