The efficacy of manual techniques in the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms: A narrative review

Abstract

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is a median nerve entrapment syndrome that occurs in the carpal tunnel and causes a variety of motor and sensory impairments in the upper limb including pain and reduced functioning. The application of manual techniques in the context of physiotherapy improves the pain and functional ability of the upper limb. However, their effects require further research. The aim of this review is to investigate the effectiveness of manual techniques in the symptoms of CTS. Method: The Google Scholar and PubMed databases were searched during the period of February – April. The following search terms were used: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Manual Therapy, Neurodymamic Therapy, Rehabilitation. Results: 10 studies (clinical studies and crossover studies) were included in this review. Discussion - Conclusions: The application of manual techniques seems to be an effective approach to improving the symptoms of mild to moderate CTS. From the results of the studies included in this review, it seems that out of all the manual techniques, the combination of soft tissue mobilization techniques and neurodynamic therapy provide the best results. More future research should focus on implementing protocols with this therapeutic combination.