TABLE 1. Baseline Comparison of Intervention Groups*.
| NDT | Sham | Total Sample | P Value for Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age (y) | 44.30 (6.97) | 49.50 (12.35) | 46.90 (10.25) | .11 |
| Duration of CTS (wk)† | 104 (30-221) | 364 (153-520) | 156 (52-520) | |
| Work related (number [percent] yes) | 14/19 (74%) | 11/19 (58%) | 25/38 (66%) | .31 |
| Expectation of pain (PCOQ)‡ | 26.1 (19.5) | 27.5 (20.5) | 26.8 (19.8) | .82 |
| Usual pain (PCOQ)‡ | 51.3 (28.0) | 45.0 (28.5) | 48.1 (28.1) | .49 |
| Current pain (MVAS)§ | 22.7 (16.3) | 14.9 (15.8) | 18.8 (16.3) | .13 |
| Temporal summation (NRS) | 36.9 (22.6) | 33.3 (29.9) | 35.1 (26.2) | .66 |
| DASH questionnaire‖ | 35.3 (15.4) | 40.7 (18.7) | 38.0 (17.1) | .34 |
| Grip (kg) | 21.76 (10.88) | 22.25 (7.84) | 22.00 (9.35) | .88 |
| NCS distal latency (ms)¶ | 4.64 (1.95) | 4.61 (1.38) | 4.63 (1.64) | .97 |
| NCS CSI (ms)¶ | 1.89 (1.81) | 1.92 (1.38) | 1.90 (1.53) | .98 |
| Sensation: thumb# | 1.00 | |||
| WNL | 5 (28%) | 5 (28%) | 10 (28%) | |
| Min | 10 (56%) | 10 (56%) | 20 (56%) | |
| >Min | 3 (17%) | 3 (17%) | 6 (17%) | |
| Sensation: index finger# | .74 | |||
| WNL | 6 (33%) | 4 (22%) | 9 (25%) | |
| Min | 9 (50%) | 11 (61%) | 20 (56%) | |
| >Min | 3 (17%) | 3 (17%) | 6 (17%) | |
| Sensation: middle finger# | .80 | |||
| WNL | 4 (24%) | 5 (28%) | 9 (26%) | |
| Min | 11 (65%) | 12 (67%) | 23 (66%) | |
| >Min | 2 (12%) | 1 (6%) | 3 (9%) | |
| Sensation: ulnar border, ring finger# | .77 | |||
| WNL | 7 (39%) | 5 (28%) | 12 (33%) | |
| Min | 10 (56%) | 12 (67%) | 22 (61%) | |
| >Min | 1 (6%) | 1 (6%) | 2 (6%) | |
| Sensation: small finger# | .42 | |||
| WNL | 8 (44%) | 6 (33%) | 14 (39%) | |
| Min | 9 (50%) | 12 (67%) | 21 (58%) | |
| >Min | 1 (6%) | 0 (0%) | 1 (3%) |
Abbreviations: CSI, combined sensory index; CTS, carpal tunnel syndrome; DASH, Disability of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand Questionnaire; MVAS, mechanical visual analog scale; NCS, nerve conduction study; NDT, neurodynamic technique; NRS, numeric rating scale; PCOQ, Patient-Centered Outcome Questionnaire; WNL, within normal limits.
All data are reported as mean (SD) ratings unless otherwise noted.
Presented as median (interquartile range) due to nonnormal distribution.
PCOQ possible response range from 0 (expect no pain following 3 weeks of participation in the study) to 100 (expect worst pain imaginable following 3 weeks of participation in the study).
MVAS possible response range from 0 (“no pain at all”) to 100 (“worst pain imaginable”).
DASH questionnaire possible response range 11 to 55, with smaller numbers indicating less disability.
NCS performed on 12 of 40 participants. NCS distal latency median motor to abductor pollicis brevis.
Sensation as measured by Semmes-Weinstein monofilament: normal, ≤2.83; min, minimal loss of sensation (3.61-4.31); >min, moderate to severe loss of sensation (≥4.56).