Does the educational level of women influence hand grip and pinch strength in carpal tunnel syndrome?

Understanding the Mechanosensitivity of the Median Nerve in Pre-Surgical Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Patients: A Correlational Study

(1) Background: Neurodynamic tests are recommended for the diagnosis of entrapment neuropathies such as carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). However, their association with clinical variables in severe patients or patients with associated comorbidities is poorly documented. This study aims to analyze the association between the mechanosensitivity of the median nerve and symptoms, function and psycho-social variables in moderate and severe carpal tunnel syndrome patients with comorbidities; (2) Methods: Correlational study. In total, 42 pre-surgical patients (24 females; 59.1 ± 12.7 years) included in the Spanish Public Healthcare System with an electrodiagnostic of CTS were selected. Sociodemographic variables and clinical features (symptoms, function, sensitivity and quality of life evaluated with the 36-item Short Form Survey (SF-36) and the Medical Outcomes Study Sleep Scale (MOS-sleep) were recorded. Upper Limb Neurodynamic Test 1 was used to evaluate neural mechanosensitivity; (3) Results: The 81% had a severe CTS and 78.6% had some comorbidity. The average time from the first medical visit to the surgeon's visit was 365.5 days. Median nerve mechanosensitivity correlated weakly with the SF-36 subscale, General Health, (Spearman's rho = 0.367) and MOS sleep scale, Awaken Short of Breath or with headache dimension (Spearman's rho = -0.353) and moderately with SF-36 subscale, Social Functioning (Spearman's rho = 0.553); (4) Conclusions: No associations were observed for median nerve mechanosensitivity, except for quality of life and sleep. Both social determinants and clinical variables should be considered when examining and treating these patients.

Better Handgrip Strength Is Related to the Lower Prevalence of Pain and Anxiety in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Although handgrip strength (HGS) may be treated as a biomarker of many health problems, there is little evidence on the potential role of HGS in the prevention of pain or anxiety in older adults. We investigated the relationship of HGS to the presence of pain and anxiety among community-dwelling older adults. The study was performed in 2038 outpatients, aged 60 to 106 years. The Jamar hand-held hydraulic dynamometer was used to measure HGS. The prevalence of pain and anxiety was assessed with the Euroqol 5D questionnaire. Symptoms of depression were recorded with 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). In the multivariate logistic regression model taking into account age, sex, BMI and concomitant diseases, the significant influence of HGS on the presence of pain (odds ratio [OR]  =  0.988) in the entire study population and among men (OR  =  0.983) was found. HGS was a significant independent predictor for the presence of anxiety in the entire study population (OR  =  0.987), in women (OR  =  0.985) and in men (OR  =  0.988). In the fully adjusted model with included GDS, 1 kg higher HGS was still associated with 1.2% and 1.3% lower probability of the presence of pain and anxiety, respectively. We conclude that low HGS is associated with the presence of pain and anxiety among older adults, independent of age, sex, depression symptoms and concomitant chronic diseases. Future research should assess whether improvement of HGS would alleviate psychological dysfunction in older adults.

Social determinants of health and physical activity are related to pain intensity and mental health in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome

BACKGROUND

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common peripheral neuropathy of the upper limb and a frequent cause of disability.

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the association between social determinants of health (SDH) and physical activity with pain intensity and mental health in patients with CTS.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional study was conducted in patients with CTS awaiting surgery in two public hospitals in Chile.

METHODS

The SDH collected included: employment status, educational level and monetary income. The level of physical activity was defined according to compliance with WHO recommendations. Outcome measures included: Pain intensity (Visual Analog Scale), Symptoms of anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), and catastrophic thinking (Pain Catastrophizing Scale). The adjusted regression coefficient (β) for the association between SDH and physical activity with each outcome was obtained using multivariable linear regression models controlling for age, sex, body mass index and symptom duration.

RESULTS

Eighty-six participants were included (mean age 50.9 ± 10 years, 94% women). A high level of physical activity was associated with a 12.41 mm decrease in pain intensity (β = -12.41, 95%CI: -23.87 to -0.95) and a 3.29 point decrease in depressive symptoms (β = -3.29, 95%CI: -5.52 to -1.06). In addition, being employed was associated with a 2.30 point decrease in anxiety symptoms (β = -2.30; 95%CI: -4.41 to -0.19) and a high educational level was associated with a 7.71 point decrease in catastrophizing (β = -7.71; 95%CI: -14.06 to -1.36).

CONCLUSION

Multidisciplinary care teams should be aware of the association between SDH and physical activity with physical and mental health.

Comparison of characteristics between neuropathic pain and non-neuropathic pain in patients with diabetic carpal tunnel syndrome: A cross-sectional study

Background

The aim of the study was to compare the clinical characteristics of diabetic carpal tunnel syndrome between patients with neuropathic pain (NeuP) and non-NeuP.

Methods

We enrolled 276 patients with diabetic carpal tunnel syndrome. Pain symptoms were evaluated using a visual analog scale. Douleur Neuropathique 4, the Neuropathic Pain Symptoms Inventory questionnaire, and the body map were used to assess neuropathic symptoms. Baseline information, clinical manifestations, electrophysiological test results, and psychological status were compared between the neuropathic pain (NeuP) and non-NeuP to identify the risk factor for NeuP occurrence.

Results

Results showed that the degree of pain was more severe in NeuP patients than in nociceptive pain patients (p = 0.025). The frequencies of light touch and pinprick were more pronounced in the NeuP group than in the non-NeuP group (light touch: p = 0.001; pinprick: p = 0.004). There were 48 and 27 NeuP patients with extramedian and proximal spread, respectively, whereas in the non-NeuP group, there were 11 and 9 patients, respectively (p = 0.03). Electrophysiological results showed that patients in the NeuP group exhibited greater sensory nerve conduction velocity impairment compared with the non-NeuP group (p = 0.033). Pain Catastrophizing Scale total scores of the NeuP group were significantly higher than those of the non-NeuP group (p = 0.006).

Conclusion

Of the 276 diabetic carpal tunnel syndrome patients studied, the majority had NeuP. Furthermore, light touch, electrophysiological test results, and psychological factors were found to be related to NeuP occurrence in patients with diabetic carpal tunnel syndrome.

Socioeconomic Status Affects Pre- and Postoperative Two-point Discrimination in Patients with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel release is a life-changing procedure within hand surgery. Multiple factors may have an impact on the outcome following surgery.

Motor Conduction Studies and Handgrip in Hereditary TTR Amyloidosis: Simple Tools to Evaluate the Upper Limbs

Purpose

Hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis with polyneuropathy (ATTRv) is caused by mutations in the TTR gene, leading to misfolded monomers that aggregate generating amyloid fibrils. The clinical phenotype is heterogeneous, and characterized by a multisystemic disease affecting the sensorimotor and autonomic functions along with other organs.

Materials and Methods

All the patients were assessed by complete neurological assessment, neurophysiological evaluation, of the median nerve, and handgrip analysis. The data are presented as means and standard deviations. Parametric and non-parametric assessments have been performed to identify differences between groups. Pearson's correlation has been carried out when appropriate.

Results

Twenty patients with ATTRv (66.1 ± 8.4 years; eight females) and 30 controls (61.1 ± 11.6 years; 16 females) were enrolled. Handgrip strength was reduced in patients with ATTR in both right and left hands compared to the controls. Significant differences were found between patients and controls in the right (handgrip right, HGS_R TTR 21.1 ± 13 kg vs. HGS_R Control 29.4 ± 11.3 kg, p = 0.017) and left (handgrip left, HGS_L TTR 22.2 ± 10.7 kg. vs. HGS_L Control 31 ± 11.3 kg, p = 0.007). NIS and CMAP amplitude of the median nerve were related to HGS measures for both hands in patients with ATTRv.

Conclusions

The progression of bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome is related to neurophysiological data in the median nerve in ATTRv. Also, handgrip measures might represent an important tool for the assessment of disease progression in ATTRv. We propose using a combination of CMAP amplitude and HGS for the assessment of hand motor strength in ATTRv.

Effects of Cognitive and Mental Health Factors on the Outcomes Following Carpal Tunnel Release: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To determine the effects of the cognitive and mental health factors on the outcomes after carpal tunnel release (CTR).

DATA SOURCES

Embase, PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases from inception to August 14, 2021.

STUDY SELECTION

Randomized controlled trials and observational studies of patients with CTR were included. The included studies aimed to determine the effect of the cognitive (catastrophic thinking, kinesiophobia, self-efficacy) or mental health factors (symptoms of anxiety and depression) on the outcomes at least 3 months post CTR.

DATA EXTRACTION

Two independent reviewers performed data extraction and assessed the risk of bias. Data were extracted using a standardized protocol and reporting forms. The risk of bias of the included studies was assessed using the Quality in Prognosis Studies risk-of-bias tool. Random-effects models were used for meta-analysis.

DATA SYNTHESIS

A total of 15 studies involving 2599 patients were included in this systematic review. The majority of studies indicate a significant association between the cognitive or mental health factors and outcomes after CTR. Quantitative analysis showed a moderate association of symptoms of depression on symptom severity (n=531; r=0.347; 95% CI, 0.205-0.475; P≤.0001), function (n=386; r=0.307; 95% CI, 0.132-0.464; P=.0008), and pain (n=344; r=0.431; 95% CI, 0.286-0.558; P≤.0001). In general, the risk of bias in the included studies was low.

CONCLUSIONS

This systematic review and meta-analysis showed that symptoms of depression have a moderate association with symptom severity, function, and pain after CTR. Symptoms of anxiety, catastrophic thinking, and self-efficacy are also important indicators of poor postsurgery outcomes. Physicians, physical therapists, and occupational therapists should consider evaluating these variables in patients undergoing CTR.

Lower education is an associated factor with the combination of pain catastrophizing and kinesiophobia in patients with knee osteoarthritis?

OBJECTIVES

To analyze if socioeconomic characteristics as lower education and lower family income are associated factors with the combination of pain catastrophizing and kinesiophobia in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA).

METHODS

This cross-sectional study included 140 participants aged 40 years or older with KOA grades II and III. Based on the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) and the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK), four groups were identified: non-catastrophic/non-kinesiophobic (NC/NK), non-catastrophic/non-kinesiophobic (NC/K), catastrophic/non-kinesiophobic (C/NK), and catastrophic/kinesiophobic (C/K). Pain intensity was measured using the visual analog scale (VAS). The 30-s chair stand test was performed to access physical function. Sociodemographic characteristics included age, sex, years of formal education (0 to 11 and > 11), and family income (up to 2 minimum wages and > 2). Multinomial regression analysis adjusted for age, radiographic severity, physical function, and pain intensity was used to determine the association between lower education and lower family income with the combination of pain catastrophizing and kinesiophobia.

RESULTS

Only lower education was independently associated with the combination of pain catastrophizing and kinesiophobia (OR = 3.96 CI 95% 1.01-15.51).

CONCLUSIONS

Lower education but not lower family income was an important associated factor with the combination of pain catastrophizing and kinesiophobia in individuals with knee osteoarthritis. Thus, physician and physical therapist must pay attention on this important socioeconomic characteristic while conducting the treatment, since specific strategies of approach could be necessary for those patients. Key points • Lower education is an important associated factor with the combination of pain catastrophizing and kinesiophobia in individuals with knee osteoarthritis. • Physician and physical therapist must pay attention on patients schooling while conducting the treatment.