Effectiveness of prevention exercises protocol among office workers with symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome

• Authors: Patrycja Łach , Anna K. Cygańska

Abstracts

EN

Objectives Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is common among office workers and limits functional hand ability and the ability to work. Carpal tunnel syndrome prevention programs implementation are still insufficient among office workers. In view of the fact that physical activity is the best method of preventing musculoskeletal complaints the aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of prevention exercises protocol for hand and wrist pain among office workers. Material and Methods Study group consists form 62 office workers, reporting complaints of hand and wrist pain. Exercise group it was 49 subjects who performed the exercise protocol and the non-exercise group consisted of 13 subjects. An exercises program, consisting of 7 exercises. The program was planned for daily routine during 8 weeks. The effectiveness of the exercise program was assessed by physical parameters (hand grip and pinch grip strength, force of forearm muscles) and questionnaires (Visual Analog Scale pain scale, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Symptom Severity Scale, and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Functional Status Scale functional hand assessment questionnaires) were performed. Assessment was performed before and after the intervention. Results Statistical analysis of the data showed significant changes in the value of measured hand grip of the right hand (Z = –2.85, p < 0.01). For pinch grip, changes were significant for both the right (Z = –2.12, p < 0.05) and the left hands (Z = –2.35, p < 0.05). Functional performance improved significantly in bought groups. There was no statistically significant change in the intensity of experienced pain. Conclusions The results of the study indicate that performing a preventive exercise program regularly has an effect on increasing forearm muscle strength in a group of office workers. Office workers with symptoms of CTS who exercised regularly had higher results in hand grip and pincer grip strength. Exercises do not affect the level of pain complaints, which may indicate a more complex etiology of pain perception in this study group.

Keywords

EN

pain; physical activity; office workers; functional ability; hand grip; carpal tunnel syndrome

• Publisher: Instytut Medycyny Pracy im. prof. dra Jerzego Nofera w Łodzi
• Journal: International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health
• Year: 2024
• Volume: 37
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 45-57

Dates

published

2024

Contributors

author

Patrycja Łach

• Central Institute for Labor Protection – National Research Institute, Warsaw, Poland (Department of Ergonomics)

author

Anna K. Cygańska

• Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland (Faculty of Rehabilitation)

References

• Ghasemi-Rad M, Nosair E, Vegh A, Mohammadi A, Akkad A, Lesha E, et al. A handy review of carpal tunnel syndrome: From anatomy to diagnosis and treatment. World J Radiol. 2014;6(6):284. https://doi.org/10.4329/WJR.V6.I6.284.
• Aroori S, Spence RAJ, Carpal tunnel syndrome. Ulster Med J. 2008;77(1):6-17.
• Abicalaf CA, de Barros N, Sernik RA, Pimentel BF, Braga-Baiak A, Braga L, et al. Ultrasound evaluation of patients with carpal tunnel syndrome before and after endoscopic release of the transverse carpal ligament. Clin Radiol. 2007; 62(9):891–4. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.CRAD.2007.01.029.
• Thiese MS, Hegmann KT, Wood EM, Garg A, Moore JS, Kapellusch J, et al. Prevalence of low back pain by anatomic location and intensity in an occupational population. BMC Musculoskeletal Disord. 2014;15(1):1-11. https://doi.org/ 10.1186/1471-2474-15-283.
• Pourmemari MH, Heliövaara M, Viikari-Juntura E, Shiri R. Carpal tunnel release: Lifetime prevalence, annual incidence, and risk factors. Muscle Nerve. 2018;58(4):497–502, https://doi.org/10.1002/MUS.26145.
• Jackson R, Beckman J, Frederick M, Musolin K, Harrison R. Rates of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in a State Workers’ Compensation Information System, by Industry and Occupation – California, 2007–2014. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2018;67(39):1094-7. https://doi.org/10.15585/MMWR. MM6739A4.
• Makowiec-Dąbrowska T, Sińczuk-Walczak H, Jóźwiak ZW, Krawczyk-Adamus P. [Work performance as a risk factor for carpal tunnel syndrome.] Med Pr. 2007;58(4):361–72. Polish.
• Biernawska J, Niemczyk A, Pierzchała K. [Contribution of occupational and non-occupational factors in the pathogenesis of carpal tunnel syndrome.] Med Pr. 2005;56(2): 131-137. Polish.
• Feng B, Chen K, Zhu X, Ip WY, Andersen LL, Page P, et al. Prevalence and risk factors of self-reported wrist and hand symptoms and clinically confirmed carpal tunnel syndrome among office workers in China: a cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health. 2021;21(1):1-10. https://doi.org/10.1186/S12889-020-10137-1/TABLES/4.
• Joshi A, Patel K, Mohamed A, Oak S, Zhang MH, Hsiung H, et al. Carpal tunnel syndrome: pathophysiology and comprehensive guidelines for clinical evaluation and treatment. Cureus. 2022;14(7):e27053. https://doi.org/10.7759/CUREUS.27053.
• Golabek R, Majcher P. Carpal tunnel syndrome. Sport i Turystyka. Środkowoeur Czas Nauk. 2018;1(1):123-40. https://doi.org/10.16926/sit.2018.01.09. Polish.
• Wilk I. The effectiveness of therapeutic massage in carpal tunnel syndrome. Puls Uczelni. 2015;(1):21-3. https://doi.org/10.5604/01.3001.0003.3186.
• Levine DW, Simmons BP, Koris MJ, Daltroy LH, Hohl GG, Fossel AH, et al. A self-administered questionnaire for the assessment of severity of symptoms and functional status in carpal tunnel syndrome. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1993; 75(11):1585-92. https://doi.org/10.2106/00004623-199311 000-00002.
• Erickson M, Lawrence M, Jansen CWS, Coker D, Amadio P, Cleary C. and pain and sensory deficits: Carpal tunnel syndrome: Clinical practice guidelines linked to the international classification of functioning, disability and health from the academy of hand and upper extremity physical therapy and the academy of orthopaedic physical therapy of the American physical therapy association. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2019;49(5):CPG1-85. https://doi.org/10.2519/JOSPT.2019.0301.
• Sheereen FJ, Sarkar B, Sahay P, Shaphe MA, Alghadir AH, Iqbal A, et al. Comparison of Two Manual Therapy Programs, including Tendon Gliding Exercises as a Common Adjunct, While Managing the Participants with Chronic Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Pain Res Manag. 2022;2022:1975803. https:// doi.org/10.1155/2022/1975803.
• İlhan D, Toker S, Kilincioğlu V, Gülcan E. Assessment of the Boston questionnaire in diagnosis of idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome: Comparing scores with clinical and neurophysiological findings. Duzce Med J. 2008;10(3):4-9.
• Ha YC, Hwang SC, Song SY, Lee CH, Park KS, Yoo JIl. Hand grip strength measurement in different epidemiologic studies using various methods for diagnosis of sarcopenia: a systematic review. Eur Geriatr Med. 2018;9(3):277-88. https://doi.org/10.1007/S41999-018-0050-6.
• Lee SH, Gong HS. Grip Strength Measurement for Outcome Assessment in Common Hand Surgeries. Clin Orthop Surg. 2022;14(1):1-12. https://doi.org/10.4055/CIOS21090.
• Mathiowetz V, Weber K, Volland G, Kashman N. Reliability and validity of grip and pinch strength evaluations. J Hand Surg Am. 1984;9(2):222-6. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0363-5023(84)80146-X.
• Kozin SH, Porter S, Clark P, Thoder JJ. The contribution of the intrinsic muscles to grip and pinch strength. J Hand Surg Am. 1999;24(1): 64-72. https://doi.org/10.1053/JHSU.1999.JHSU24A0064.
• Peolsson A, Hedlund R, Oberg B. Intra- and inter-tester reliability and reference values for hand strength. J Rehabil Med. 2001;33(1):36-41. https://doi.org/10.1080/165019701300006524.
• Keir PJ, Farias Zuniga A, Mulla DM, Somasundram KG. Relationships and Mechanisms Between Occupational Risk Factors and Distal Upper Extremity Disorders. Hum Factors. 2021;63(1):5-31. https://doi.org/10.1177/0018720819860683.
• Lund CB, Mikkelsen S, Thygesen LC, Hansson GÅ, Thomsen JF. Movements of the wrist and the risk of carpal tunnel syndrome: a nationwide cohort study using objective exposure measurements. Occup Environ Med. 2019;76(8): 519-26. https://doi.org/10.1136/OEMED-2018-105619.
• Al Shahrani E, Al Shahrani A, Al-Maflehi N. Personal factors associated with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS): a casecontrol study. BMC Musculoskeletal Disord. 2021;22(1):1-7. https://doi.org/10.1186/S12891-021-04941-Y/TABLES/3.
• Trillos-Chacón MC, Castillo-M JA, Tolosa-Guzman I, Sánchez Medina AF, Ballesteros SM. Strategies for the prevention of carpal tunnel syndrome in the workplace: A systematic review. Appl Ergon. 2021;93:103353. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.APERGO.2020.103353.
• Jiménez-del-Barrio S, Cadellans-Arróniz A, Ceballos-Laita L, Estébanez-de-Miguel E, López-de-Celis C, Bueno-Gracia E, et al. The effectiveness of manual therapy on pain, physical function, and nerve conduction studies in carpal tunnel syndrome patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int Orthop. 2022;46(2):301. https://doi.org/10.1007/S00264- 021-05272-2.
• 27.Da Silva NC, Ricci FPFM, de Castro VR, de Lima ACR, do Carmo Lopes ER, de Salvo Mauad LD, et al. Effects of workplace upper extremity resistance exercises on function and symptoms of workers at a tertiary hospital: a randomized controlled trial protocol. BMC Musculoskeletal Disord. 2022;23(1):1-8. https://doi.org/10.1186/S12891- 022-05059-5/FIGURES/2.
• Shem K, Wong J, Dirlikov B. Effective self-stretching of carpal ligament for the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome: A double-blinded randomized controlled study. J Hand Ther. 2020;33(3):272-80. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JHT.2019. 12.002.
• Keskin Y, Kilic G, Taspinar O, Posul SO, Halac G, Eren F, et al. Effectiveness of home exercise in pregnant women with carpal tunnel syndrome: Randomized Control Trial. J Pak Med Assoc. 2020;70(2):202-7. https://doi.org/10.5455/JPMA.1846.
• de Arenas-Arroyo SN, Cavero-Redondo I, Torres-Costoso A, Reina-Gutiérrez S, Álvarez-Bueno C, Martínez-Vizcaíno V. Short-term Effects of Neurodynamic Techniques for Treating Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Systematic Review With Meta-analysis. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2021;51(12): 566-80. https://doi.org/10.2519/JOSPT.2021.10533

Identifiers

DOI

10.13075/ijomeh.1896.02164

Biblioteka Nauki

28761989