Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Approaches in Patients with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

Aicha Zaralieva,Alexandar Iliev,Vesselin Karabinov,Georgi P Georgiev,Assen Aleksiev

doi:10.7759/cureus.7171

Aicha Zaralieva, Alexandar Iliev + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.7171

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Abstract

Physical therapy involves a set of factors and methods that affect the biological processes in the body. It is widely used, relatively inexpensive, non-invasive, and easy to apply. Physiotherapy is also used in the treatment of patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). This syndrome represents the most common compressive mononeuropathy of the upper limb and leads to significant disability. Hence, its successful treatment leads to significant benefits for both the patient and society. There is no established algorithm for the use of physical therapy in these patients. In this publication, we present the physiotherapeutic methods used for the treatment of CTS both before and after surgical treatment.

Highlights

BackgroundPhysical therapy or physiotherapy combines a variety of factors aimed at the prevention and treatment of diseases by means of natural factors and preformed factors
We present the physiotherapeutic methods used for the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) both before and after surgical treatment
The CTS is relatively common and causes considerable disability, there is no consensus on the combined use of physical factors in this pathology, and the experts have yet to reach an agreement on the answers to the following questions: 1. How many factors can be used at the same time? 2

Summary

Introduction

Physical therapy or physiotherapy (derived from the Greek word fysis, meaning nature, and therapia, meaning treatment) combines a variety of factors aimed at the prevention and treatment of diseases by means of natural factors (sun, sea, healing mud, water, movement) and preformed factors (electric current, ultrasound, artificial light including laser rays, magnetic field, etc.) Their action reduces pain, stimulates restoration processes, increases range of motion, activates immune mechanisms, and improves biochemical performance. Shockwave therapy (SWT) is considered to be one of the non-invasive and evidence-based physical approaches to the treatment of CTS [23] It uses pneumatically generated shock waves with low frequency (5-20 Hz) and pressure of 1-5 bar applied locally in the affected area [24]. The therapeutic course consists of 4-6 procedures, with 1-2 procedures per week (Figure 7) It is effective in the early stages of the disease and in young patients where the CTS is associated with occupational overload. The abovedescribed physiotherapeutic factors and methods of kinesiotherapy are used, with emphasis on the active training of the muscles of the affected hand [6]

Conclusions

Disclosures

Georgiev GP