Effect of Neurodynamic Exercises and Education Program Applied With Virtual Reality Assisted Telerehabilitation Method in Conservative Treatment of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Effect of Neurodynamic Exercises and Education Program Applied With Virtual Reality Assisted Telerehabilitation Method in Conservative Treatment of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

The Effect of Neurodynamic Exercises and Education Program Applied With Virtual Reality Assisted Telerehabilitation Method in Conservative Treatment of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Single-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial

The aim in this prospective, randomized and controlled, single-blind study; In the conservative treatment of patients diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome, to investigate the effects of neurodynamic exercises that applied with nonimmersive virtual reality technology and patient education program presented by the telerehabilitation method on pain-numbness, functional status and quality of life, to compare the effects of neurodynamic exercises that applied with traditional methods and standard education given to patients in outpatient clinic conditions on the same parameters.

A brochure showing the execution of median nerve and tendon gliding exercises and a wrist brace for night use will be provided. In addition, 2 sessions of patient education will be provided with videoconference calls, and with the mobile application to be installed on the phones of the patients as non-immersive virtual reality support, it will be possible to practice median nerve and tendon gliding exercises in the form of 5 repetitions and 6 sets every day with video support for 16 weeks. In this application, the user will use the front camera of phone as a sensor to detect hand movements. A screen on which exercises will be played at the top of the screen and a virtual image of the user's hand in the lower half of the screen will be displayed in the field of view of the camera. Each exercise position will take 5 seconds. Patient education will include neuroscience, etiology, pathophysiology and treatment options of carpal tunnel syndrome, ergonomics and posture education.

A brochure showing the execution of median nerve and tendon gliding exercises and a wrist brace for night use will be provided. Patients will be asked to do the exercises in the form of 5 repetitions and 6 sets every day and to wear the night splint every night for 16 weeks. Each exercise position will take 5 seconds. A brief verbal education will be given to the patients under the same topics as the intervention group, as in the outpatient clinic.

BCTSQ assesses the severity of symptoms and functional status in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome. The symptom severity scale assesses the symptoms with respect to severity, frequency, time and type. The scale consists of 11 questions with multiple-choice responses, scored from 1 point (mildest) to 5 points (most severe). The overall symptom severity score is calculated as the mean of the scores for the eleven individual items. The functional status scale assesses the affect of the carpal tunnel syndrome on daily living. The scale consists of 8 questions with multiple choice responses, scored from 1 point (no difficulty with the activity) to 5 points (can not perform the activity at all). The overall score for functional status was calculated as the mean of all eight. Thus, a higher symptom severity or functional status score indicates worse symptoms or dysfunction.

The VAS is a single-item measure, that is, an instrument measuring the whole construct at once. VAS most commonly consists of a 100mm horizontal line anchored with two opposite labels; patients mark a score on the scale using a vertical line. Using this scale, patients will be asked to rate the severity of pain and numbness they feel during the night and in daytime at rest, and with activity between 0 and 100 points.

Change in Brief International Classification of Functioning (ICF) Core Set for Hand Conditions Questionnaire

The disorders caused by carpal tunnel syndrome in the patient's daily activities will be evaluated by using the 'ICF activities and participation codes' section of the 'Brief ICF Core Set for Hand Conditions'.

The SF-36 is a 36 item questionnaire that measures eight multi-item dimensions of health: physical functioning, social functioning, role limitations due to physical problems, role limitations due to emotional problems, mental health, energy/vitality, pain and general health perception. For each dimension item scores are coded, summed, and transformed on to a scale from 0 (worst possible health state measured by the questionnaire) to 100 (best possible health state).

Using 20 pieces of SWMT, sensitive touch threshold sensitivity of each hand will be tested. The examiner and the subject will seated opposite each other. Both arms of the subject will arranged on a table in supination, with palm upwards. The patient will be instructed to close their eyes. The monofilaments will be touched fingertips of first three fingers on the radial side of both hands, with enough force to bend the monofilament for 1.5 seconds. The thinnest monofilament numbers that the patient feels being touched will be recorded. The thinnest monofilament number among the three measurements will be noted as a result. Absence of sensation at a threshold of 2.83 in any of the three fingers tested indicates loss of sensation.

Two point discrimination sense will be evaluated statically and dynamically using an esthesiometer. The examiner and the subject will seated opposite each other. Both arms of the subject will arranged on a table in supination, with palm upwards. The patient will be instructed to close their eyes. The contact time of the discriminator with the fingertip ranged from 3 to 5 seconds. The evaluation will be started by touching a single point on the first three fingertips on the radial side of both hands. Each three fingers will be evaluated separately and the distance between the two touched points will be increased by 1mm in each measurement. The smallest values will be taken in millimeters which the patient feels the two points as two separate points on the tested hand will be noted and the the average value written as the result.

The squeeze force will be measured while the patients are sitting, with the elbow in 90 degrees flexion and they will be asked to make a maximally voluntary grip. Measurements will be made three times in a row on both hands and the average of the three measurements will be noted as a result in kilogram (kg).

The pinch force with thumb and forefinger will be measured while the patients are sitting, with the elbow in 90 degrees flexion and they will be asked to make a maximally voluntary grip.The pinch force will be measured as kg with a pinch dynamometer, and the average of the three measurements will be noted as a result.

Manual muscle testing will be evaluated in 5 grades. No visible or palpable muscle contraction 0, visible or palpable muscle contraction without motion grade 1, muscle contraction that creates movement at full of range of motion when gravity is eliminated grade 2, muscle contraction that creates movement at full of range of motion against gravity grade 3, muscle contraction that creates movement at full of range of motion against gravity and moderate resistance grade 4, muscle contraction that creates movement through the entire range of motion of the joint against gravity and full resistance will be considered as the grade 5.

Vibration sense was tested with tuning fork. The normal vibration sensory threshold for the upper extremity was accepted as 20 seconds. The examiner and the subject will seated opposite each other. Both arms of the subject will arranged on a table in supination, with palm upwards. The patient will be instructed to close their eyes. Vibrating tuning fork will be placed on the palmar aspect of the distal phalanx of first three fingers on the radial side of both hands, The patient was asked to say 'done' when the vibration in his hand was over. The average of three measurements will be noted as a result in seconds.

Median motor distal latency and conduction velocity and second finger recorded median sensory distal latency and conduction velocity will be measured antidromically in all individuals. In addition to routine conduction examinations, fourth finger recorded median-ulnar peak latency comparison examinations will also be made.

Inclusion Criteria: 18-65 years Being diagnosed with CTS clinically and electrophysiologically Exclusion Criteria: <18 years or >65 years Distal motor latency > 4.5 msn. Thenar atrophy Surgery history for CTS Steroid injection for CTS Physical treatment for CTS in the last 6 months Cervical radiculopathy Tenosynovitis Peripheral polyneuropathy Another compressive neuropathy in the ipsilateral upper extremity History of trauma/fracture to the hand-wrist region Pregnancy Metabolic disease Rheumatic/autoimmune disease Kidney failure Lack of internet access Not having the equipment to make video calls at home