Brininger, Teresa Lucente
(2005)
The Efficacy of a Non-Traditional Splint Combined with Tendon and Nerve Gliding Exercises for the Treatment of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.
Doctoral Dissertation, University of Pittsburgh.
(Unpublished)
Abstract
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a commonly diagnosed upper extremity neuropathy with a prevalence of 3.7% in the general population. The need to identify effective and economical conservative management strategies for the treatment of CTS is critical. The purpose of this randomized controlled clinical trial was to evaluate the effectiveness of a non-traditional wrist splint combined with tendon and nerve gliding exercises for the treatment of CTS. Sixty-one subjects diagnosed with mild to moderate CTS enrolled in the study. Fifty-one subjects completed the study. After completing the CTS history and demographic questionnaire, the CTS Symptom Severity and Functional Status Scale, the Disabilities of the Arm Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire, and a physical examination subjects were randomly assigned to a group. The FAB-EX (n=13) and the FAB-NOEX (n=14) received the fabricated wrist splint, which supported the wrist and metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints. The FAB-EX also received exercises. The OTS-EX (n=13) and the OTS-NOEX group (n=11) received an off the shelf wrist cock-up splint. The OTS-EX also received exercises. Subjects were instructed to wear either splint all night, for 4 weeks and if applicable, perform exercises 3 times a day. At 4 weeks subjects completed the same measures given at baseline. At 8 weeks, subjects were mailed the CTS Symptom Severity and Functional Status Scale, the DASH, and an exit survey. 2 x 2 x 3 mixed analysis of variances (ANOVA) were performed on the subjective measures and 2 x 2 x 2 mixed ANOVAs were performed on the objective measures. All groups, over time, demonstrated a significant improvement on the CTS Symptom Severity (p < .001) and Functional Status Scale (p < .001), DASH (p < .001), tip pinch (p < .008), and palmar pinch (p < .034). Subjects randomized to the non-traditional fabricated wrist/MCP splint demonstrated significant improvement on the CTS Symptom Severity (p < .014) and Functional Status Scale (p < .029). There were no significant findings between the groups who received exercises and the groups who did not receive exercises. The results of this study support the use of a fabricated wrist/MCP splint for the treatment of CTS.
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Details
| Item Type: |
University of Pittsburgh ETD
|
| Status: |
Unpublished |
| Creators/Authors: |
|
| ETD Committee: |
| Title | Member | Email Address | Pitt Username | ORCID |
|---|
| Committee Chair | Rogers, Joan C | jcr@pitt.edu | JCR | | | Committee Member | Holm, Margo B | | | | | Committee Member | Baker, Nancy A | | | | | Committee Member | Goitz, Robert J | | | | | Committee Member | Li, Zong-Ming | | | |
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| Date: |
1 December 2005 |
| Date Type: |
Completion |
| Defense Date: |
24 October 2005 |
| Approval Date: |
1 December 2005 |
| Submission Date: |
1 December 2005 |
| Access Restriction: |
No restriction; Release the ETD for access worldwide immediately. |
| Institution: |
University of Pittsburgh |
| Schools and Programs: |
School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences > Rehabilitation Science |
| Degree: |
PhD - Doctor of Philosophy |
| Thesis Type: |
Doctoral Dissertation |
| Refereed: |
Yes |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: |
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome; Conservative Interventions; Exercises; Splint |
| Other ID: |
http://etd.library.pitt.edu/ETD/available/etd-12012005-141442/, etd-12012005-141442 |
| Date Deposited: |
10 Nov 2011 20:07 |
| Last Modified: |
15 Nov 2016 13:52 |
| URI: |
http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/9911 |
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