The effect of hand exercise on reducing the symptoms in hemodialysis patients with carpal tunnel syndrome

Context: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is one of the most common peripheral neuropathies, and there is no consensus on the preferred method of treatment. Aims: The aim of this study is to determine the effects of hand exercise performed with a ball on symptoms and to evaluate the results in hemodialysis (HD) patients with CTS. Settings and Design: This study was conducted in patients with HD who were treated in dialysis centers and state hospitals in Turkey between 2011 and 2012. Subjects and Methods: This study included 19 patients (28 hands) that were diagnosed as CTS. For exercise treatment, a hand and finger exercise ball that consists of two parts: a foam body and flexible rubber cords was used. Patients placed their fingers through each cord, squeezed it for 1 s, and then opened their fingers against the cord for 1 s. Patients repeated this exercise for 30 s to 1 min/day. Statistical Analysis Used: The McNemar, Friedman ANOVA, and the Wilcoxon test with a Bonferroni correction were used on SPSS 20.0 software package program. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Results showed that recovery was performed from physical examination results, grip strength, and Boston questionnaire scores. About 21.4% of patients' electrophysiological results were negative at the end of the 1 st month and 32.1% of them at the end of the 3 rd month. Conclusion: Due to the slowed progress of CTS and detection of slight improvement in evaluation parameters, this self-applicable and practical exercise can be used as an alternative treatment of mild CTS in patients with HD.