Assessment of wrist muscle strength, hand grip strength and pain in women with carpal tunnel syndrome: a pilot study

Purpose: Our aim was to assess wrist muscle strength and handgrip strength in women with CTS by means of hand heid dynamometer (HHD) and Jamar handgrip (JH) dynamometer and to compare these results with heathy individuals. Materials and methods: 12 female patients with bilateral CTS (mean age: 46.25 +/- 9.12 years) and 12 healthy female volunteers (mean age: 46.33 +/- 9.92 years) were evaluated. Wrist flexor strength and extensor muscle strength were assessed by HHD; handgdp strength was assessed by JH dynamometer; pain was assessed by Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and all tests were administered by the same investigator. Results: There were no significant differences between demographic data of the two groups. Right wrist flexor and extensor muscle and left wrist extensor muscle strength (p<0.05), and right and left handgrlp strength were decreased (p<0.05), VAS values were increased (p<0.05) in CTS patients. Conclusion: When females with CTS was compared with healthy ones, it was seen that handgrip and wrist muscle strength decreased. Consequently, strengthening of wrist muscles in addition to strengthening of palmar muscles may increase success of therapy in treatment of mild to moderate CTS. Because of the influence of pain on strength loss, the methods for pain assessment and pain relief also should be involved in the management