Reliability and efficacy of the new massage technique on the treatment in the patients with carpal tunnel syndrome

Ercan Madenci, Ozlem Altindag, Irfan Koca, Mustafa Yilmaz, Ali Gur, Ercan Madenci, Ozlem Altindag, Irfan Koca, Mustafa Yilmaz, Ali Gur

Abstract

We aimed to bring a more understandable and applicable technique to the literature instead of "massage therapy" in CTS. We compared our new technique with the splint wear, of which the efficacy in CTS has been proven with many studies. Eighty-four patients between 31 and 65 years of age were included in the study. The patients were divided into two equal groups. In the first group, splint and "Madenci" hand massage technique were applied, and in the second group only splint was applied. A splint was provided for all patients with tendon and nerve gliding exercises, and also when needed analgesic drugs were given. When the pretreatment and posttreatment parameters were compared via repetitive measurement analysis, it was found that PGA and MDPGA were significantly decreased in both groups (P = 0.001), whereas grip strength was significantly increased (P = 0.001). While no statistically significant difference was found between the groups regarding pretreatment values (P > 0.05), the posttreatment PGA, MDPGA, and grip strength scores were significantly improved in Group I compared to Group II (P < 0.05). To the best our knowledge, the present study is the first and largest study in the literature conducted on the massage technique that will contribute to the treatment of CTS. As this new massage technique is easy for self-application, cheap, and practical, every patient with CTS can apply the massage to him/herself easily.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Splint application
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Application of “Madenci” hand massage technique manipulations: Effleurage: Thirty seconds, scrubbing the surface, from distal to proximal, on forearm. Friction: Sixty seconds, stroking deep tissues, from distal to proximal, clock wise, on solar surface. Petrissage: Thirty seconds, scouring depths, from distal to proximal, on forearm. Shaking: Thirty seconds. Effleurage: Thirty seconds, scrubbing the surface, from distal to proximal, on forearm
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Tendon gliding exercises [11]
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Median nerve gliding exercises [11]

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