Efectos del feedback visual de la terapia del espejo sobre el dolor y la funcionalidad del miembro superior en el síndrome del túnel carpiano bilateral: ensayo clínico aleatorizado

Abstract

Introduction and objectivesThe high prevalence of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), and the evidence that it is not merely local compression, implies that new treatments should be considered. Pain catastrophizing is associated with diseases that involve chronic pain. The aims of this study were to assess the effects of mirror therapy (MT) on pain and upper extremity functionality, determine whether catastrophizing is related to the intensity of pain, and identify it as a prognostic factor for the effects of MT in patients with bilateral CTS. Material and methodsDouble-blind randomized trial. The 18 participants were divided into two groups: MT and control group. All the participants underwent eight-week treatment with progressive difficulty exercises but only the MT group had visual feedback from the mirror. Pain (McGill pain questionnaire) and disability (Disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand questionnaire DASH) were assessed at baseline, at the 2nd-4th-8th weeks, and pain-related catastrophizing (Pain catastrophizing questionnaire) was assessed at baseline. ResultsA decrease in pain was observed (P=.038), but no improvement in the functionality of the upper limbs (P=.062). A statistically significant relationship was found between catastrophizing and intensity of pain (P=.018). ConclusionsMT decreases pain but does not improve upper limb function, catastrophizing is related to pain intensity, but it is not a prognostic factor after treatment with MT in patients with bilateral CTS.Clinical trial registration number: NCT03169218.