Economic impact The economic impact of carpal tunnel syndrome has been measured and researched by numerous organizations in recent decades. Impacts differ based on demographic and psychogenic factors, yet carpal tunnel syndrome has conclusively been found to negatively affect economies. Washington State’s Department of Labor & Industries tracked the loss of earnings of CTS sufferers using time-loss claims, from 1993 to 1994, and for six years following their claims. These individuals were compared to two other groups from the same time frame: workers with medical-only claim for dermatitis and workers with time-loss claims for fractures of the antebrachium and manus bones. Results of this study indicated that a typical CTS claimant is expected to lose an alarming $52,326 or more over the six-year period than the group with fractures, and $82,776 more than the
group with dermatitis. This study demonstrates the long-term negative ramifications of acquiring carpal tunnel syndrome. Hindawi’s online resource on sleep disorders (published in 2014) studied a correlation of sleep disorders amongst carpal tunnel patients. Measuring results via the Levine-Katz Carpal Tunnel and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaires, 66 CTS patients were tracked in three adult age ranges for at least 11 months. Results indicated that CTS patients slept 2.5 hours less than recommended for their respective age ranges and were more at risk for comorbid conditions. CTS patients consistently reported awakening on multiple occasions due to paresthesia and similar phenomena. Malalignment of the wrist joint (caused by various sleeping positions) is said to create these sensations. Patients with other sleep-related disorders, including sleep apnea, were excluded from the study to aid in data clarity.
CURRENT RESEARCH FINDINGS
There are numerous research studies that indicate the efficiency of massage therapy techniques to aid carpal tunnel patients. We will explore the many studies involving massage therapy’s effectiveness with this condition. These research items are adapted from searches using the government’s primary health resource database: pubmed.gov There are many reasons to emphasize research findings with massage therapy efforts: First, showcasing research that indicates the effectiveness of treatment validates anecdotal claims of massage therapy’s benefits. Second, highlighting research also aids therapists in persuading insurance companies to include massage therapy as a covered treatment. Third, the medical community will respect legitimate research when considering massage therapy as a viable treatment endorsement option. Finally, the public will view massage therapy as a legitimate allopathic means of health care when research confirms proposed benefits. “Massage Therapy as an Effective Treatment for Carpal Tunnel”; Elliot, R., Burkett, B.; Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, July 2013. Abstract Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common peripheral entrapment that causes neuralgia in the median nerve distribution of the hand. The primary aid of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of massage therapy as a treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome. Within this process, the locations of trigger points that refer neuropathy to the hand were identified. The creation of massage pressure tables provides a means of treatment reproducibility. Twenty-one participants received 30 minutes of massage twice a week for six weeks. Carpal tunnel questionnaires, the Phalen, Tinel and two-point discrimination tests provided outcome assessment. The results demonstration significant (p<0.001) change in symptom severity and functional status from two weeks. Based on this study, the combination of massage and trigger point therapy is a viable treatment option for carpal tunnel syndrome and offers a new treatment approach. “Reliability and Efficacy of the new Massage Technique on the Treatment in the Patients with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome”; Madenci, E., Altindaq O., Yilmaz M., Gur A.; Rheumatology International, October 2012. Abstract We aimed to bring a more understandable and application technique to the literature instead of “massage therapy” in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS). We compared our technique with the splint wear, of which the efficacy in CTS has been proven in many studies. Eighty-four patients between 31 and 65 years of age were included in the study. The patients were divided into two equal groups. In the first group, split and “Madenci” hand massage technique were applied, and in the second group only split was applied. The splint was provided for all patients with tendon and nerve gliding exercises, and
also when needed analgesic drugs were given. When the pretreatment and posttreatment parameters were compared via repetitive measurement analysis, it was found that PGA and MDPGA were significantly decreased in both groups (P = 0.001), whereas grip strength was significantly increased (P = 0.001). While no statistically significant different was found between the groups regarding pretreatment values (P > 0.05), the post treatment PGS, MDPGA and grip strength scores significantly improved in Group 1 compared to Group II (P < 0.05). To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first and largest study in the literature conducted on the massage technique that will contribute to the treatment of CTS. As this new massage technique is easy for self-application, cheap and practical, every patient with CTS can apply the massage to him/herself easily. “Response of Pain Intensity to Soft Tissue Mobilization and Neurodynamic Technique: A series of 18 patients with chronic Carpal Tunnel Syndrome”; De La Llave-Rincon, A., Ortega-Santiago, R., Ambite-Quesada, S., Gil-Crujera, A., Puentedura, EJ., Valenza, MC., Fernandez De Las Penas, C.; Journal of Manipulative Physiology Therapy, July 2012. Abstract The purpose of this prospective case series was to examine the combined effects of soft tissue mobilization and nerve slider neurodynamic technique on pain and pressure sensitivity in women with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS). Eighteen women with a clinical and electromyographic diagnosis of CTS participated. Patients completed the numerical pain rating scale (NPRS) for current, worst and lowest pain intensity and underwent pain pressure threshold (PPT) testing over the median, radial and ulnar nerves; the c5-c6 zygapophyseal joint; the carpal tunnel; and the Tibialis Anterior muscle. Pain was assessed at baseline and 1 week follow up, whereas PPT were assessed at baseline and immediately after and 1 week after intervention. Each received soft tissue mobilization and nerve slider neurodynamic technique directed at different anatomical sites of potential entrapment of the median nerve. A decrease in the mean current intensity and worst level of hand pain (P < 0.01) was found 1 week after treatment. A treatment effects for PPT levels over the c5-c6 zygapophyseal joint (P < 0.01) was found: PPT increased bilaterally 1 week after intervention. No other significant changes in PPT levels were found (P > 0.195). The application of soft tissue mobilization and neurodynamic technique decreased the intensity of pain but did not change pressure pain sensitivity in this group of women with chronic CTS. “Massage Therapy Plus Topical Analgesic is more Effective than Massage alone for Hand Arthritis Pain”; Field, T., Diego M., Solien-Wolfe, L.; Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapy, July 2014.
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Book Code: MLA1224
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