Protective effect of glove on median nerve compression in the carpal tunnel

Abstract

To determine the protective effect of gel padded glove on median nerve compression in the carpal tunnel. Median nerve conduction parameters, skin temperature, laser Doppler flowmetry and pain modifications were measured during and after a 30-min carpal tunnel external compression protocol performed with and without glove in a random order on six healthy volunteers. Compression induced a rapidly reversible increase in sensory and motor distal latencies, a decrease in sensory amplitude, finger laser Doppler flowmetry and hand skin temperature supporting the hypothesis of a reversible conduction block of ischemic origin. There was no statistical difference between the tests (with or without glove) except for pain that was significantly reduced by glove protection. Gel padded glove does not seem to have a protective effect on the carpal tunnel syndrome induced by compression but provides significant comfort.