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The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of the median nerve mobilization on change of median nerve conduction velocity, grip strength and pain in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome. Twenty patients with carpal tunnel syndrome were recruited for this study, who gave written informed consent. Subjects were assigned randomly to either experimental group (n=10) or control group (n=10). Both groups received conventional physical therapy (hotpacks with 20 minutes and ultrasound with 15 minutes). In addition, subject group was applied the median nerve mobilization for 10 minutes per a day, 5 times per a week during 4 weeks. Median nerve conduction velocity was measured by EMG/EP system. Grip strength was measured by JAMAR Hydraulic Hand Dynamometer. Pain was measured by visual analog scale (VAS).
In experimental group, there were statistically significant differences in motor latency, motor amplitude, sensory latency, and sensory amplitude of median nerve, grip strength and VAS between the pre- and the post-test. And in control group, there was a significant difference in VAS. Our results showed significant differences in motor latency, sensory latency, and sensory amplitude of median nerve, grip strength and VAS between groups.
These results indicate that the median nerve mobilization is effective therapeutic method for patients with carpal tunnel syndrome. Therefore, it could be developed a variety of intervention method fitted for carpal tunnel syndrome patients in clinical settings.