| Massage therapy eases the symptoms of carpal | | | | see if light tapping of the affected area elicits pain |
| tunnel syndrome and increases grip strength, | | | | or tingling, was also used at the start and finish of |
| according to a recent study. | | | | the study. Physicians used the Phalen Test at the |
| "Carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms are lessened | | | | beginning and end of the study as well. The Phalen |
| following massage therapy" was conducted by | | | | Test involves flexing of the wrists to see if |
| staff at the Touch Research Institutes at the | | | | numbness or tingling occurs. |
| University of Miami School of Medicine in Miami, | | | | A nerve conduction test was also performed at |
| Florida. | | | | the start and finish of the study. This involved |
| Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome include pain, | | | | stimulation of the median sensory nerves through |
| tingling, burning and numbness of the hand. | | | | electrodes placed on each subject's index finger |
| Sixteen people diagnosed with this syndrome | | | | and wrist. Peak sensory latencies were recorded |
| participated in the study. All of them held jobs | | | | to test for nerve compression at the carpal |
| involving heavy word processing or computer | | | | tunnel. Median peak latency was the primary |
| work. | | | | outcome measure. |
| Subjects were randomly assigned to either the | | | | Assessments were also made before and after |
| standard-treatment control group or the | | | | the massage sessions on the first and last days |
| massage-therapy group. Those in the massage | | | | of the study, including the Perceived Grip Strength |
| group received one massage per week on the | | | | Scale; VITAS, a pain assessment using a visual |
| affected arm for four weeks. They were also | | | | analogue scale; the state anxiety inventory; and |
| instructed in self-massage, which they were to | | | | the Profile of Mood States. |
| perform each night before bed. | | | | Results of the study showed that the subjects in |
| The massage routine consisted of stroking of | | | | the massage group had significantly less pain and |
| moderate pressure from the fingertips to the | | | | reduced carpal tunnel symptoms, as well as |
| elbow. A massage and pain log was kept by | | | | shorter median peak latencies and increased grip |
| subjects in the massage group. In the log, | | | | strength. |
| participants recorded the times at which they | | | | "Functional activity also improved as noted in |
| began and ended self-massage, as well as their | | | | reduced pain and increased grip strength in the |
| levels of pain on a scale from zero to 10. | | | | massage therapy group, both immediately after |
| Subjects in the control group received no | | | | the first and last massage therapy sessions and |
| intervention, but were taught the massage routine | | | | by the end of the study," state the study's |
| after the study ended. | | | | authors. "Finally, the massage therapy group |
| Physicians evaluated participants' carpal tunnel | | | | reported lower anxiety and depressed mood |
| symptoms, such as tingling, numbness, pain and | | | | levels both immediately after the first and last |
| strength, at the beginning and end of the | | | | sessions and by the end of the study. |
| four-week study. The Tinel sign, which tests to | | | | |