title: Splinting is effective for night-only symptomatic carpal tunnel syndrome patients.
abstract: [Purpose] Carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common entrapment neuropathy of the median nerve. Splinting is one of the most used conservative treatment methods for carpal tunnel syndrome. The aim of this study was to show the effectiveness of splinting in carpal tunnel syndrome patients who were divided into two groups according to their level of symptoms. [Subjects and Methods] A total of 40 carpal tunnel syndrome patients were divided into 2 groups based on having symptoms only at night or during the day were included in this study. These two groups were compared at the end of a 3-months splinting therapy in terms of improvement of severity of symptoms, functional capacity, pain level, and electrophysiological findings. [Results] Pain levels of both groups were similar at baseline. After splinting, pain levels of night-only symptomatic patients were lower than those of sustained symptomatic ones. No differences were found in symptom severity, functional capacity, and the electrophysiological findings in either group after the splinting. [Conclusion] The results of this study show that splinting alone may be sufficient to decrease the pain for night-only symptomatic patients. Combined therapy methods may be needed for sustained symptomatic patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, Bezmialem Vakif University, Turkey.
authors.forename: Gulistan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Halac
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Medical Faculty, Bezmialem Vakif University, Turkey.
authors.forename: Saliha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Demir
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences, Bezmialem Vakif University, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hulya
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yucel
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, Bezmialem Vakif University, Turkey.
authors.forename: Elvin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Niftaliyev
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, Bezmialem Vakif University, Turkey.
authors.forename: Gulsen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kocaman
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, Bezmialem Vakif University, Turkey.
authors.forename: Humeyra
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Duruyen
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, GATA Haydarpasa Teaching Hospital, Turkey.
authors.forename: Tansel
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kendirli
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, Bezmialem Vakif University, Turkey.
authors.forename: Talip
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Asil
keywords: Carpal tunnel syndrome; Splinting; Symptom