title: Conservative treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome: comparison between laser therapy and Fascial Manipulation(®).
abstract: The etiopathogenesis of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is multifactorial and most cases are classified as idiopathic (Thurston 2013). A randomized controlled trial was performed to compare the effectiveness of Fascial Manipulation(®) (FM) and Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) for CTS. This prospective trial included 42 patients (70 hands with symptoms) with clinical and electroneuromyographic diagnosis of CTS. The patients were randomly assigned to receive multiple sessions of FM or multiple session of LLLT. The Visual Analogic Scale (VAS) and Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ) were performed at baseline, end of treatment and after three months. The group that received FM showed a significant reduction in subjective pain perception and an increased function assessed by BCTQ at the end of the treatment and follow-up. The group that received LLLT showed an improvement in the BCTQ at the end of the treatment but the improvement level was not sustained at the three month follow-up. FM is a valid alternative treatment for CTS.
authors.affiliation: Agenzia recupero e riabilitazione, University of Careggi, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pratelli
authors.affiliation: Institution of Rehabilitation, Rede de Lucy Montoro, San Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pintucci
authors.affiliation: Azienda Socio Locale 10, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Pina
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cultrera
authors.affiliation: Centro di Reabilitazione, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Baldini
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Padua, Padua, Italy. Electronic address: antonio.stecco@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stecco
authors.affiliation: Agenzia recupero e riabilitazione, University of Careggi, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Petrocelli
authors.affiliation: Agenzia recupero e riabilitazione, University of Careggi, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pasquetti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008475:Median Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D064746:Therapy, Soft Tissue / Q000379:methods*; D061028:Trigger Points / Q000503:physiopathology
keywords: Carpal tunnel syndrome; Fascial manipulation; Low level laser therapy; Manual therapy