Effectiveness of prevention exercises protocol among office workers with symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome

• Published in: International journal of occupational medicine and environmental health Vol. 37; no. 1; pp. 45 - 57
• Main Authors: Each, Patrycja, Cyganska, Anna Katarzyna
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Poland Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine 01.01.2024
• Subjects: Analysis; Carpal tunnel syndrome; Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - prevention & control; Development and progression; Disease prevention; Exercise; Exercise Therapy; functional ability; Hand; hand grip; Hand Strength; Hands; Health aspects; Humans; Methods; Occupational health and safety; Office workers; Overuse injuries; Pain; Performance evaluation; physical activity; Physical fitness; Prevention; Questionnaires; Treatment Outcome; Wellness programs; Wrist; Poland; United States; carpal tunnel syndrome; functional ability; office workers; pain; hand grip; physical activity
• ISSN: 1232-1087; 1896-494X; 1896-494X
• DOI: 10.13075/ijomeh.1896.02164

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is common among office workers and limits functional hand ability and the ability to work. Carpal tunnel syndrome prevention programs implementation are still insufficient among office workers. In view of the fact that physical activity is the best method of preventing musculoskeletal complaints the aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of prevention exercises protocol for hand and wrist pain among office workers. Study group consists form 62 office workers, reporting complaints of hand and wrist pain. Exercise group it was 49 subjects who performed the exercise protocol and the non-exercise group consisted of 13 subjects. An exercises program, consisting of 7 exercises. The program was planned for daily routine during 8 weeks. The effectiveness of the exercise program was assessed by physical parameters (hand grip and pinch grip strength, force of forearm muscles) and questionnaires ( pain scale, , and functional hand assessment questionnaires) were performed. Assessment was performed before and after the intervention. Statistical analysis of the data showed significant changes in the value of measured hand grip of the right hand (Z = -2.85, p < 0.01). For pinch grip, changes were significant for both the right (Z = -2.12, p < 0.05) and the left hands (Z = -2.35, p < 0.05). Functional performance improved significantly in bought groups. There was no statistically significant change in the intensity of experienced pain. The results of the study indicate that performing a preventive exercise program regularly has an effect on increasing forearm muscle strength in a group of office workers. Office workers with symptoms of CTS who exercised regularly had higher results in hand grip and pincer grip strength. Exercises do not affect the level of pain complaints, which may indicate a more complex etiology of pain perception in this study group. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2024;37(1):45-57.