Dry Needling and Rehabilitatin Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

August 26, 2025 updated by: Musa Güneş, Karabuk University

Dry Needling in Patients With Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Dry needling is used for myofascial release. However, its effectiveness in carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is not well known. It is thought that dry needling may also be an effective treatment for CTS by providing relaxation in the fascial tissue. Therefore, this study will examine the effects of dry needling treatment on pain, function, range of motion, proprioception and disability in patients with CTS.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common entrapment neuropathy in the society, which develops due to compression of the median nerve in the carpal tunnel. With the compression of the median nerve, a pain, numbness and tingling sensation spreading to the hand and wrist affects daily living activities and reduces the quality of life. Thickening and myofascial restriction in the carpal tunnel area also contribute to this situation. For this reason, various treatment methods have been developed for CTS, ranging from conservative treatment to surgery. Dry needling is also an alternative treatment method that can be used for CTS. Dry needling allows the fascial tissue to loosen and re-enter the healing process, leading to a decrease in pain and an increase in quality of life. However, its effectiveness in patients with CTS is unknown. This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of dry needling in patients with CTS.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
78

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

  • Name: Musa Gunes
  • Phone Number: 0 (370) 418 9081

Study Locations

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Volunteering to participate in the study.
  2. Being between the ages of 18-65.
  3. Being diagnosed with mild or moderate stage CTS as a result of the electroneurophysiological test.

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Having additional neurological, rheumatological and orthopedic disorders.
  2. Having had previous hand surgery.
  3. Having an additional acute neck, shoulder, elbow and hand problem.
  4. Having a BMI of 40 kg/m2 and above.
  5. Being pregnant.
  6. As a result of the electroneurophysiological test, the data related to the median nerve are at a severe level.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Triple

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Treatment Group
In addition to the exercise given to the control group, the treatment group will receive dry needling in the carpal tunnel area, 2 days a week for 3 weeks, for a total of 5 sessions.
Other: Dry needling
In addition to stretching, nerve mobilization and tendon gliding exercises, a total of 5 sessions of dry needling will be performed for fascial mobilization, 2 days a week for 3 weeks.
Active Comparator: Control Group
The control group will be taught and asked to perform stretching, nerve mobilization and tendon-shifting exercises for 3 weeks.
Other: Control group
The physiotherapist will teach stretching, neuromobilization and tendon shifting exercises and will be asked to do them regularly for 3 weeks.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Pain severity
Time Frame: Baseline and 3 weeks post-intervention
It will be evaluated with the Visual Analogue Scale. The scale ranges from 1 to 10 at 10 mm intervals. 0 indicates absence of pain and the highest value of 10 indicates extreme pain.
Baseline and 3 weeks post-intervention
Wrist range of motion
Time Frame: Baseline and 3 weeks post-intervention
Wrist flexion, extension, ulnar deviation and radial deviation joint range degrees will be measured using a universal goniometer.
Baseline and 3 weeks post-intervention
Position sense
Time Frame: Baseline and 3 weeks post-intervention
In the evaluation of joint position sense (proprioception), wrist extension, elbow flexion and shoulder flexion movements will be evaluated with an inclinometer. An increase in deviation from the target angle indicates a worsening of position sense.
Baseline and 3 weeks post-intervention
Severity of symptoms
Time Frame: Baseline and 3 weeks post-intervention
The patients' CTS-related symptom severity and functional status will be evaluated with the Boston Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Questionnaire. The severity of the patient's strain is scored between 1-5. Higher scores indicate greater disability.
Baseline and 3 weeks post-intervention
Hands activity level
Time Frame: Baseline and 3 weeks post-intervention
Duruöz hand index will be used to evaluate hand-related activity limitations. The survey yields a total score of 0-90, with a higher score indicating greater activity restriction.
Baseline and 3 weeks post-intervention
Nerve cross-sectional area
Time Frame: Baseline and 3 weeks post-intervention
With ultrasonography, the doctor will measure the median nerve cross-sectional area of the individual and the distance between the median nerve flexor retinaculum.
Baseline and 3 weeks post-intervention

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Karabuk University

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Fidan Yılmaz, MsC, Pursaklar State Hospital
  • Principal Investigator: Emime EMİRMAHMUTOĞLU, Bachelors, Pursaklar State Hospital
  • Study Director: Banu Gökçen BAYDOĞAN TAN, MD, Pursaklar State Hospital

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
April 5, 2024

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
August 30, 2024

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
November 30, 2024

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
April 5, 2024

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
April 5, 2024

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
April 10, 2024

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimated)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
September 3, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
August 26, 2025

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
August 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • Karabuk-1

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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