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