Mechanisms of Neural Mobilization in the Treatment of Chronic Pain

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of a manual therapy technique (neural mobilization) on measures of clinical pain and function, experimental pain sensitivity, and on the function of the median nerve in individuals with carpal tunnel syndrome. The investigators hypothesized that individuals receiving a neural mobilization technique known to directly stress the median nerve would demonstrate greater improvements in clinical pain and function, experimental pain sensitivity, and median nerve function than those receiving a sham technique.

Official Title
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Mechanisms of Neural Mobilization in the Treatment of Chronic Pain

Conditions
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Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Intervention / Treatment
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* Procedure: neural mobilization
* Procedure: sham neural mobilization
* Other: healthy controls


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: 18 to 70 years of age signs and symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome for greater than 12 weeks Exclusion Criteria: non english speaking prior surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome systemic condition known to affect sensation chronic pain condition other than carpal tunnel syndrome

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 70 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: neural mobilization<br>manual therapy technique known to directly stress the median nerve | Procedure: neural mobilization<br>* manual therapy technique known to directly stress the median nerve<br>* Other names: upper limb tension test with median nerve bias;|
| Placebo Comparator: sham neural mobilization<br>manual therapy technique known to directly stress the median nerve without any stimulation. | Procedure: sham neural mobilization<br>* sham technique mimicking the neural mobilization which is not specific to the median nerve<br>|
| Active Comparator: Healthy Controls<br>People without carpal tunnel syndrome for comparison | Other: healthy controls<br>* People without carpal tunnel syndrome for comparison<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| thermal and pressure pain sensitivity |  | immediate effect | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| grip strength |  | 3 weeks | 
| wrist range of motion |  | 3 weeks | 
| clinical pain |  | 3 weeks | 
| self report of disability |  | 3 weeks | 
| median nerve function |  | 3 weeks | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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manual therapy, carpal tunnel syndrome, central sensitization