Pain neuroscience education for people with carpal tunnel syndrome

The Effectiveness of Pain Neuroscience Education for Patients With Mild to Moderate Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

This project will test whether adding pain neuroscience education to home exercises and a wrist splint helps adults with mild to moderate carpal tunnel syndrome reduce pain and numbness.

Quick facts

• Phase: NA
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 48 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years and up
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Karamanoğlu Mehmetbey University (other)
• Locations: 1 site (Karaman, Karaman)
• Trial ID: NCT07302282 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This interventional study enrolls adults with ENMG-confirmed mild to moderate carpal tunnel syndrome and applies pain neuroscience education (PNE) alongside a home exercise program and wrist splint use. Participants will be compared to usual care or exercise/splint alone to see if PNE provides added clinical and ultrasonographic benefit. Outcomes include symptom severity, pain, functional measures, and objective nerve imaging, measured before and after the intervention. The emphasis is on changing pain-related beliefs and behaviors to reduce pain, disability, and improve quality of life.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults aged 18 or older with ENMG-confirmed mild or moderate carpal tunnel syndrome and at least three months of median-nerve-distribution pain or numbness are the ideal candidates.

Not a fit: Patients with severe CTS on electrophysiology, uncontrolled metabolic or inflammatory diseases, other neuromuscular disorders, recent wrist/neck surgery or recent injections/physical therapy are unlikely to benefit from this specific intervention.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, adding PNE could reduce pain and numbness and improve hand function and quality of life for people with mild to moderate CTS.

How similar studies have performed: Small trials and telerehabilitation studies have reported modest symptom reductions when PNE is added for CTS, but the evidence base is limited and not yet definitive.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* Being 18 years of age or older
* Having a diagnosis of mild or moderate CTS confirmed by ENMG
* Having complaints of pain and numbness in the first three fingers of the hand for at least 3 months

Exclusion Criteria:

* Presence of severe CTS findings on electrophysiological examination
* Presence of metabolic diseases such as uncontrolled diabetes and hypothyroidism
* Presence of inflammatory rheumatic disease (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis)
* Presence of other neuromuscular diseases affecting the hand and wrist (Polyneuropathy, Cervical radiculopathy, peripheral nerve damage, Brachial plexus damage, other entrapment neuropathies, etc.)
* History of hand and wrist trauma
* History of neck and wrist surgery
* History of steroid injection into the carpal tunnel within the last 3 months
* History of physical therapy application to wrist within the last 3 months
* Deformity preventing the use of a splint on the wrist
* Previous participation in a program for the psychological management of chronic pain
* Cognitive dysfunction preventing cooperation with tests

Where this trial is running

Karaman, Karaman

• Karaman Training and Research Hospital — Karaman, Karaman, Turkey (Türkiye) (RECRUITING)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Mahmut Talha Susam, MD — Karamanoglu Mehmetbey University Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
• Study coordinator: Mahmut Talha Susam, MD.

Conditions: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Median Neuropathy, Mononeuropathies, Nerve Compression Syndromes, Education, Exercise, Pain neuroscience education, Carpal tunnel syndrome