Effects of Power Ball Exercises in Addition to Routine Physical Therapy on Pain, Grip Strength and Functional Disability in Patients with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Abstract

Background: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common entrapment neuropathy that often presents with pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness in the hand and arm. Delayed treatment in CTS may worsen the symptoms and progresses to permanent sensory loss and thenar paralysis in some cases. Objective: To determine the comparative effects of power ball exercises & strength training on pain, grip strength and functional disability in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome. Methodology: This randomized clinical trial was conducted from December 2021 to May 2022 at Badar Medical Complex on 86 patients that were recruited through purposive sampling technique. Group A received routine physical therapy only while Group B received Power Ball Exercise and routine physical therapy. Participants of both gender with aged 45-60 years, clinically diagnosed CTS with duration of more than two months, tingling sensation and numbness over the dorsum surface of thumb, index, middle, and lateral 1/3rd of ring fingers and positive Tinel’s sign with Phalen’s Maneuver were included in the study. Pain, grip strength and functional status were the outcome measures, observed through Numeric Pain Rating Scale, Hand Held Dynamometer and Boston Carpel Tunnel Syndrome Questionnaire at baseline, 2nd and 4th week. Independent t-test and mixed design ANOVA were used for between and within-group differences respectively. Results: The results showed significant between-group difference in pain, and functional disability (p<0.05). However, no significant difference was observed for grip strength. Within-group difference was found significant in both group A and group B for all variables (p<0.05). Conclusion: The addition of Power Ball Exercises with routine physical therapy is more effective in reducing pain, and functional disability in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome than physical therapy alone.