Hand pain relief without surgery? physical therapy shows promise for carpal tunnel
NCT ID NCT04329247
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tested whether a specific physical therapy technique called median nerve neural mobilization can reduce pain in people with carpal tunnel syndrome. 74 participants were randomly assigned to receive the therapy or no treatment. The main goal was to measure pain reduction using a standard pain scale, and the researchers also looked at hand and arm function.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- median nerve neural mobilization (a manual therapy maneuver)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could offer a non-surgical, drug-free option to ease pain and improve hand function for people with carpal tunnel syndrome.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, completed trial with only 74 participants. The results may not apply to everyone, and the benefit over no treatment might be modest.
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
-
Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
-
74 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
-
May 2020
- Finished
-
Aug 2020
- 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 signs. * The presence of carpal tunnel syndrome signs and symptoms Exclusion Criteria: * The lack to meet inclusion criterions, the presence of cognitive impairment. * Tumors * Cancer * Upper limb surgery or trauma * Pregnancy * 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 * Participants must not be (during the present investigation) under any type of pain reducing treatment (conservative, homeopathic, invasive or not invasive). * Metabolic neuropathy. * Obesity (body mass index over 30). * Participants who are not employed.
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for Carpal tunnel syndrome are added.
Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor
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.
- Does mixing numbing agent into steroid shots ease hand pain?
- Blood protein may reveal how severe carpal tunnel syndrome is
- A carpal tunnel clue to a silent heart threat?
- Taping technique may offer Drug-Free relief for wrist pain
- One size Doesn't fit all: could pain 'Phenotypes' unlock better carpal tunnel care?
- Ultrasound may reveal hidden clues in carpal tunnel syndrome