Investigation of the Effectiveness of Cervicothoracic Exercises in Individuals With Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

February 8, 2026 updated by: Zehranur Kaya, Medipol University

Karpal Tünel Sendromu Olan Bireylerde Servikotorakal Egzersizlerin Etkinliğinin Araştırılması

This randomized, parallel-group controlled clinical trial aims to investigate the effects of adding cervicothoracic exercises to conventional physiotherapy on pain, functional status, grip strength, and range of motion in individuals with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). CTS is a common compressive neuropathy of the median nerve, characterized by pain, numbness, tingling, nocturnal symptoms, and reduced hand function. Sixty adults diagnosed with CTS will be randomly allocated into two groups (n=30 each): a conventional physiotherapy group and a cervicothoracic exercise plus conventional physiotherapy group.

The conventional physiotherapy program includes transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), therapeutic ultrasound, median nerve mobilization, wrist range-of-motion exercises, and strengthening exercises. The intervention group will receive the same conventional physiotherapy program in addition to cervicothoracic exercises targeting cervical mobility, scapular stabilization, and thoracic spine mobility. The intervention will be applied five days per week for six weeks.

Outcome measures will be assessed at baseline and at the end of week 6. Primary outcomes include pain intensity measured by the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), functional status assessed using the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ), and grip strength measured with a Jamar hand dynamometer. Secondary outcomes include upper extremity function evaluated using the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire and wrist and finger range of motion measured with a goniometer. Data will be analyzed using appropriate statistical methods, with statistical significance set at p<0.05. This study aims to determine whether adding cervicothoracic exercises to conventional physiotherapy provides additional clinical benefits in CTS rehabilitation.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

60

Phase

  • 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 Locations

  • Turkey (Türkiye)
    • Pendik
      • Istanbul, Pendik, Turkey (Türkiye), 340003,4000
        • Recruiting
        • Istanbul Medipol University Pendik Hospital
      • Istanbul, Pendik, Turkey (Türkiye), 34000
        • Recruiting
        • Istanbul Medipol University & Istanbul Medipol University Pendik Hospital
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Zehranur Kaya, MSc Student

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

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age over 18
  • Symptom duration of at least 12 weeks,
  • Information about carpal tunnel syndrome received from a physician,
  • Positive Tinel or Phalen test in carpal compression test,
  • Pain intensity, Visual Analog Scale, at least 40 mm out of 100 mm

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Any sensory or motor deficit in the ulnar or radial nerve
  • History of previous surgery or injection in the wrist
  • Trauma to the neck, shoulder, or upper extremity
  • Pregnancy
  • Concurrent cervical radiculopathy or polyneuropathy

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: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Arm 1 - Conventional Physiotherapy (Control)
Participants will receive conventional physiotherapy including transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), therapeutic ultrasound, median nerve mobilization, wrist range-of-motion exercises, and strengthening exercises, five days per week for six weeks
Other: Conventional Physiotherapy Group
Participants will receive a conventional physiotherapy program consisting of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), therapeutic ultrasound, median nerve mobilization, wrist range-of-motion exercises, and hand strengthening exercises. TENS will be applied using sensory-level stimulation without muscle contraction. Therapeutic ultrasound will be delivered over the carpal tunnel region using standard clinical parameters. Median nerve mobilization and wrist exercises will be performed under physiotherapist supervision. The treatment will be administered five days per week for six weeks.
Other Names:
  • Physical Therapy
  • Standard Physiotherapy
  • Conservative Treatment
Experimental: Arm 2 - Cervicothoracic Exercises + Conventional Physiotherapy
Participants will receive cervicothoracic exercises in addition to conventional physiotherapy. Cervicothoracic exercises will target cervical mobility, scapular stabilization, and thoracic spine mobility. Treatment will be applied five days per week for six weeks.
Other: Cervicothoracal Exercise Group
Participants will receive cervicothoracic exercises in addition to the same conventional physiotherapy program. The cervicothoracic exercise program will include cervical mobility exercises, scapular stabilization, and thoracic spine mobility exercises designed to improve proximal neural mechanics and upper limb function. All interventions will be supervised by a physiotherapist and applied five days per week for six weeks.
Other Names:
  • Cervical and Thoracic Exercise Training
  • Cervicothoracic Stabilization Exercises
  • Spinal Mobility and Scapular Stabilization Exercises

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Boston Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Questionnaire
Time Frame: Assessment will be taken initially and after the intervention (for 6 weeks, 5 days a week).
This questionnaire will be used to measure hand and wrist symptom and function scores in carpal tunnel syndrome. The scale consists of two sub-sections: Symptom Severity and Functional Status. The Symptom Severity Scale evaluates symptoms such as pain, numbness, tingling, and nighttime awakenings, while the Functional Status Scale measures difficulties in daily living activities such as writing, grasping, and carrying objects. Each item is scored between 1 (no complaints) and 5 (very severe complaints); higher scores indicate more symptoms and functional limitations.
Assessment will be taken initially and after the intervention (for 6 weeks, 5 days a week).
Visual Analog Scale
Time Frame: Assessment will be taken initially and after the intervention (for 6 weeks, 5 days a week).
The Visual Analog Scale will be used to assess pain. The Visual Analog Scale is a measurement tool that allows individuals to subjectively assess the intensity of their pain, defined by endpoints of "0 = no pain" and "10 = unbearable pain" on a 10 cm long horizontal line. Participants are asked to mark the point on this line that corresponds to the intensity of the pain they feel. A higher score indicates more severe pain.
Assessment will be taken initially and after the intervention (for 6 weeks, 5 days a week).

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Disabilities of the Arm Shoulder and Hand (DASH)
Time Frame: Assessment will be taken initially and after the intervention (for 6 weeks, 5 days a week).

The questionnaire will be used to assess the upper extremity function of the participants.

The questionnaire consists of a 30-item scale, and each item is scored between 1 (no difficulty) and 5 (very great difficulty).

The total score is converted into a score between 0 and 100; higher scores indicate more functional limitations and symptoms.
Assessment will be taken initially and after the intervention (for 6 weeks, 5 days a week).
Jamar Hydraulic Hand Dynamometer (Hand Grip Strength)
Time Frame: Assessment will be taken initially and after the intervention (for 6 weeks, 5 days a week).
Hand grip strength will be measured using a Jamar hydraulic hand dynamometer. Procedure: The patient will be seated upright, with shoulders in a natural position and adduction, and elbows at 90° flexion, when the measurement will be taken with the Jamar dynamometer. Three repetitions will be performed for the measurement, and the average will be taken.
Assessment will be taken initially and after the intervention (for 6 weeks, 5 days a week).
Goniometer (Wrist Range of Motion)
Time Frame: Assessment will be taken initially and after the intervention (for 6 weeks, 5 days a week).
Wrist joint range of motion (ROM) will be measured with a goniometer, assessing flexion, extension, ulnar deviation, and radial deviation. The participant will be seated with the forearm pronated and supported on a table. For flexion and extension, the pivot will be placed on the ulnar styloid process, the fixed arm aligned with the ulna, and the movable arm along the 5th metacarpal. For ulnar and radial deviation, the pivot will be positioned proximal to the third metacarpal, the fixed arm aligned with the forearm, and the movable arm parallel to the third metacarpal. The fixed arm will remain stationary, each movement will be measured three times, and the average value will be used for analysis.
Assessment will be taken initially and after the intervention (for 6 weeks, 5 days a week).

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Medipol University

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)

October 1, 2025

Primary Completion (Estimated)

May 15, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

May 15, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

February 8, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 8, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

February 13, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

February 13, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 8, 2026

Last Verified

February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • IMU-FTR-ZK-01

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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