Yi-Shiung Horng1, Shih-Fu Hsieh2, Ming-Chuan Lin3, Yi-Wei Chang2, Kun-Chang Lee2, Huey-Wen Liang4. 1. Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital, The Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, New Taipei City, Taiwan, ROC; Department of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan, ROC. 2. Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital, The Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, New Taipei City, Taiwan, ROC. 3. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Min-Sheng Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan, ROC. 4. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC. Electronic address: lianghw@ntu.edu.tw.
Abstract
STUDY DESIGN: Case control study. PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: To evaluate the ultrasonographic median nerve changes under tendon gliding exercise in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and healthy controls. METHODS: Seventy-three patients with CTS and 53 healthy volunteers were consecutively recruited. Each subject underwent a physical examination, nerve conduction studies and ultrasonographic examinations of the median nerve during tendon gliding exercises. RESULTS: Significant changes in the cross-sectional area of the median nerve were found while moving from the straight position to the hook position and from the hook position to the fist position. There were also significant changes in the flattening ratio when moving from the hook position to the fist position. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasonography revealed that the median nerve was compressed in the fist position in both CTS patients and healthy volunteers. Thus, forceful grasping should be avoided during tendon gliding exercises performed in the fist position. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3b.
STUDY DESIGN: Case control study. PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: To evaluate the ultrasonographic median nerve changes under tendon gliding exercise in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and healthy controls. METHODS: Seventy-three patients with CTS and 53 healthy volunteers were consecutively recruited. Each subject underwent a physical examination, nerve conduction studies and ultrasonographic examinations of the median nerve during tendon gliding exercises. RESULTS: Significant changes in the cross-sectional area of the median nerve were found while moving from the straight position to the hook position and from the hook position to the fist position. There were also significant changes in the flattening ratio when moving from the hook position to the fist position. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasonography revealed that the median nerve was compressed in the fist position in both CTS patients and healthy volunteers. Thus, forceful grasping should be avoided during tendon gliding exercises performed in the fist position. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3b.