title: Isokinetic evaluation of wrist muscle strength in patients of carpal tunnel syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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).
  
  
  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 30°/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 30°/second (p=0.014); extension 30°/second (p=0.016); and ulnar deviation 30°/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 30°/second (p=0.039, r= -0.432) and ulnar deviation 30°/second (p=0.034, r=0.443) in CTS patients. No significant relationship was found between Boston Questionnaire, grip strength, and isokinetic test results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Quantitative wrist strength measurements with isokinetic dynamometers are beneficial in conservative exercise treatments and motor assessments of CTS patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Medical Faculty of İstanbul Medipol University, 34214 Bağcılar, İstanbul, Turkey. mehmetagirman@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ağırman
authors.forename: Adnan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kara
authors.forename: Oğuz
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Durmuş
authors.forename: İlknur
authors.initials: İ
authors.lastname: Saral
authors.forename: Engin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Çakar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011403:Pronation; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013484:Supination; D013997:Time Factors; D014457:Ulna / Q000503:physiopathology; D014953:Wrist / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014955:Wrist Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*