A treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome: results of a follow-up study

This study was a follow-up evaluation of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) subjects based on objective and subjective measures utilizing a conservative treatment method. It was hypothesized that the CTS individuals would maintain their improvements over the course of a 6-mo period after treatments.

The design used was a case control study in which the improvements of the CTS subjects were compared within themselves and with a matched comparison group. The treatments were performed at a private chiropractic clinic, and the objective and subjective measures were independently taken in an industrial engineering laboratory. All CTS subjects were volunteers from a random sample. Forty-three individuals were evaluated at the pretreatment period and in the 6-mo follow-up. Only 22 subjects returned for reevaluation. The treatment duration was not controlled.

The results indicate that CTS subjects had maintained improvements in most of the objective measures and pain and distress ratings over the pretreatment level (p < .05) at 6 mo post-treatment. When compared to a matched comparison group, CTS-treated subjects demonstrated no significant differences (p < .05) in grip strength (for females), pinch strength, forearm pronation and supination forces, assembly task performance and pain and distress scores.

The results of statistical analyses indicate that CTS subjects can be treated and achieve a significant recovery to within normal comparative levels of non-CTS subjects in most subjective and objective measures.