Efficacy of Sensory Rehabilitation on Pain and Hand Function in Patients with Median Nerve Entrapment

Abstract

A common Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is aneuropathic entrapment for the upper limbs with middle-aged people being at higher risk. To study how sensory rehabilitation impacts pain and functional outcome of hand in carpal tunnel syndrome patients. Twenty females with CTS, aged 25-45 years were enrolled. They were allocated at random to two groups; Group I: provided for sensory rehabilitation in addition to a standard physical therapy program and Group II: received only the standard physical therapy program only. Pre and post-treatment assessment included Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and the Boston Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Questionnaire (BCTQ). In both post-treatment groups, the decrease of mean VAS and BCTQ scores was statistically significant. No substantial difference between the two groups in the measured parameters pre or post treatment. Adding sensory rehabilitation has nearly the same efficacy as the standard physical therapy program alone in decreasing pain, enhancing hand function in mild and moderate patients with CTS.