Which works best for carpal tunnel pain: physiotherapy or pills?
NCT ID NCT04025203
First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 2 times
Summary
This study tested whether physiotherapy, ibuprofen arginine, or gabapentin reduces pain and improves hand function in people with carpal tunnel syndrome. 196 participants were assigned to one of these treatments or no treatment at all. The goal was to see which approach offers the most relief.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- physiotherapy, ibuprofen arginine, gabapentin
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could help identify which treatment—physiotherapy or medication—works best for easing pain and improving hand function in carpal tunnel syndrome.
- What could go wrong
- This is a completed Phase 4 trial with 196 participants, so results are available, but individual responses may vary and not everyone may benefit equally.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Phase 4
Runs after approval, following long-term safety and how well the treatment works in everyday use.
- Participants
-
196 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
-
Aug 2019
- Finished
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Nov 2019
- Lead sponsor
-
Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
-
18 to 70 years
- Sex
-
Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Participants must be medically diagnosed with unilateral carpal tunnel syndrome (with confirmative electrodiagnostic findings). * Full understanding of written and spoken Spanish (language). * Participants must freely consent to participate. * The presence of positive Phalen and Tinel sign. * The presence of carpal tunnel syndrome signs and symptoms Exclusion Criteria: * The lack to meet inclusion criterions, the presence of cognitive impairment, tumors, cancer, recent (affected) upper limb surgery or trauma, pregnancy, metabolic neuropathy, obesity (body mass index over 30), participants who are not employed, deformities of the (affected) upper limb, recent skin injuries or infections (in the affected upper limb), autoimmune inflammatory conditions or flu type symptoms, allergy to gabapentin, allergy to ibuprofen arginine, and also: participants must not be (during the present investigation) under any type of pain reducing treatment (conservative, homeopathic, invasive or not invasive).
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Ciudad Hospitalaria Enrique Tejera
Valencia, Carabobo, 2001, Venezuela
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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