Mehmet Ağırman1, Adnan Kara2, Oğuz Durmuş1, İlknur Saral1, Engin Çakar1

1Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Medical Faculty of İstanbul Medipol University, İstanbul, Turkey
2Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Medical Faculty of İstanbul Medipol University, İstanbul, Turkey

Keywords: Carpal tunnel syndrome; hand strength; muscle strength dynamometer.

Abstract

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the isokinetic characteristics of wrist strength in flexion, extension, supination, pronation, radial, and ulnar deviation in patients with moderate or severe carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).
Patients and methods: Thirteen patients (23 hands) (2 males, 11 females; mean age 45 years; range 29 to 60 years) with moderate or severe CTS were compared to six healthy control subjects (12 hands) (2 males, 4 females; mean age 41 years; range 27 to 63 years) in this study, which was conducted between January 2016 and April 2016. Wrist flexion, extension, supination, pronation, radial, and ulnar deviation muscle strengths were measured at 30º/second (5 sets) angular velocity with isokinetic dynamometer. Grip strength was measured with hand dynamometer (kilograms). Boston Questionnaire was used for clinical assessment.
Results: Grip strength (p=0.003); wrist flexion 30º/second (p=0.014); extension 30º/second (p=0.016); and ulnar deviation 30º/second (p=0.017) muscle strengths were lower in CTS patients compared with the control group. An evaluation according to symptom duration did not reveal any significant relationship in any of the isokinetic tests with the exception of pronation 30º/second (p=0.039, r= -0.432) and ulnar deviation 30º/second (p=0.034, r=0.443) in CTS patients. No significant relationship was found between Boston Questionnaire, grip strength, and isokinetic test results.
Conclusion: Quantitative wrist strength measurements with isokinetic dynamometers are beneficial in conservative exercise treatments and motor assessments of CTS patients.