Personal factors associated with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS): a case-control study

Symptoms and Risk Factors of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome among Schoolteachers in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-sectional Study

CONTEXT

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is caused by compression of the median nerve as it travels through the carpal tunnel into the wrist. It is the most common peripheral mononeuropathy and accounts for a large proportion of occupational upper extremity disorders. Teaching is an occupation associated with musculoskeletal disorders.

AIMS

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of CTS symptoms and related risk factors among schoolteachers in Al-Ahsa.

SETTINGS AND DESIGN

A cross-sectional study was conducted on schoolteachers in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia, during 2023.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

We distributed the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire to the teachers' groups through social media in the form of an online questionnaire, and we visited schools to encourage participation.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED

Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

Our study included 619 schoolteachers. The syndrome symptoms were present in 71.1% of individuals, and functional disruption was present in 52.7%. The likelihood of exhibiting the symptoms is increased by being female, not participating in sports, having a chronic illness, writing for more than 4 h, and having symptoms in both hands.

CONCLUSIONS

We found a comparatively high percentage (71.1%) of the syndrome symptoms among schoolteachers working in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia, which suggests that any signs of CTS in schoolteachers should be evaluated to ensure proper diagnosis and treatment.

Effectiveness of prevention exercises protocol among office workers with symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome

OBJECTIVES

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is common among office workers and limits functional hand ability and the ability to work. Carpal tunnel syndrome prevention programs implementation are still insufficient among office workers. In view of the fact that physical activity is the best method of preventing musculoskeletal complaints the aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of prevention exercises protocol for hand and wrist pain among office workers.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Study group consists form 62 office workers, reporting complaints of hand and wrist pain. Exercise group it was 49 subjects who performed the exercise protocol and the non-exercise group consisted of 13 subjects. An exercises program, consisting of 7 exercises. The program was planned for daily routine during 8 weeks. The effectiveness of the exercise program was assessed by physical parameters (hand grip and pinch grip strength, force of forearm muscles) and questionnaires (Visual Analog Scale pain scale, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Symptom Severity Scale, and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Functional Status Scale functional hand assessment questionnaires) were performed. Assessment was performed before and after the intervention.

RESULTS

Statistical analysis of the data showed significant changes in the value of measured hand grip of the right hand (Z = -2.85, p < 0.01). For pinch grip, changes were significant for both the right (Z = -2.12, p < 0.05) and the left hands (Z = -2.35, p < 0.05). Functional performance improved significantly in bought groups. There was no statistically significant change in the intensity of experienced pain.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of the study indicate that performing a preventive exercise program regularly has an effect on increasing forearm muscle strength in a group of office workers. Office workers with symptoms of CTS who exercised regularly had higher results in hand grip and pincer grip strength. Exercises do not affect the level of pain complaints, which may indicate a more complex etiology of pain perception in this study group. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2024;37(1):45-57.

Perceived stress, coping strategies, symptoms severity and function status among carpal tunnel syndrome patients: a nurse-led correlational Study

BACKGROUND

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a prevalent condition characterized by hand pain, tingling, and numbness. The severity of symptoms and functional status in CTS patients may be influenced by perceived stress and how individuals cope with it. However, scarce knowledge exists about the role of coping strategies as moderators in this relationship. Unfolding the role of perceived stress and coping strategies for CTS management will help the nurse to provide comprehensive and tailored nursing care. This will ultimately improve patient comfort, functionality, and quality of life.

PURPOSES

This study aimed to examine the role of coping strategies (adaptive and maladaptive) in the relationship between perceived stress and both symptoms severity and function status among those patients.

METHOD

We employed a multisite, correlational study design with moderation analysis. The study included 215 patients with CTS from neurosurgery outpatient clinics at three hospitals in Egypt. After obtaining their consent to participate, eligible participants completed anonymous, self-reported measures of perceived stress, the brief COPE inventory, and the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire. Demographic and biomedical data were also collected. The questionnaire took about 20 min to be completed. The data was collected over six months, starting in February 2023.

RESULTS

The results showed that perceived stress, adaptive coping, and maladaptive coping were significant predictors of symptoms severity and functional status. Adaptive coping moderated the relationships between perceived stress and both symptoms severity and function status, while maladaptive coping did not. The interaction between perceived stress and adaptive coping explained a moderate effect on symptoms severity and function status after controlling for the main effects and the covariates.

CONCLUSION

This study explored the relationship between perceived stress, coping strategies, and outcomes in patients with CTS. The results indicate that nurses play a vital role in assessing and assisting patients to adopt effective coping strategies to manage perceived stress and alleviate symptoms and functional impairment. Moreover, the findings support the need for psychological interventions that address both perceived stress and coping strategies as a way to enhance the functioning status and quality of life of patients with CTS.

High frequency of carpal tunnel syndrome and associated factors: A cross-sectional study in Peruvian workers from agro-export industry

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a peripheral mononeuropathy caused by compression of the median nerve at the wrist and has been reported in workers who perform repetitive movements that involve actions of sustained grasping of vibrating objects. We carried out a cross-sectional analytical study in March 2018 to identify the factors associated with the CTS among workers of agro-export companies in Ica-Peru. CTS confirmation in our study was based on having at least 1 positive screening test (Tinel or Phalen) and a presumptive result of CTS by the Kamath and Stothard Questionnaire. We carried out 4 Poisson regression models to evaluate the factors associated with CTS based on epidemiological and statistical criteria. We enrolled 112 agro-export workers in production (42.0%), packing (35.7%), and administration (22.3%) working areas. The CTS frequency in Peruvian agro-export workers in production, packing, and administrative working area were 78.7%, 45.0%, and 28.0%, respectively. The bivariate analysis found a relationship between the CTS with age, female sex, sports practice, job seniority in the working area (year), and repetitive wrist movements (hours per day). In the multivariate analysis, only job seniority in the working area (year) and repetitive wrist movements maintained their association with CTS. Occupational factors are significantly associated with a high frequency of CTS, such as job seniority in the working area (year) and repetitive wrist movements in agro-export workers. Surveillance programs should be held to prevent, reduce, and monitor workers' health status.

Reliability, Validity and Temporal Stability of the Serbian Version of the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire

Background and Objectives: The aim of this study was to validate the Serbian version of the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ) and to evaluate temporal stability for the purpose of its implementation in the evaluation of Serbian patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Materials and Methods: For the validation of the Serbian version of the BCTQ (BCTQSR), we tested 69 individuals with diagnosed CTS that were referred for a conservative treatment at the Institute for Rehabilitation. Neurophysiological tests were used for the electrophysiological grading (EG) of CTS severity in the study sample. The final version of the BCTQSR was given to the tested participants from the study on two occasions: test and retest, with a five-day period between the two measurements. Results: The mean value for the symptom severity subscale (SSS) of the BCTQSR was 3.01 ± 0.94; for the functional status subscale (FSS) of the BCTQSR it was 2.85 ± 1.00. Cronbach’s α for the SSS was 0.91 and 0.93 for the FSS. The intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) concerning the test−retest were significant (p < 0.001) and were 0.949 for the SSS and 0.959 for the FSS. Those with a higher EG grade had higher values of the SSS and FSS but without a statistical significance (p = 0.103 and p = 0.053, respectively). The intercorrelation of the BCTQSR subscales (SSS and FSS) on the test was significant (p < 0.001) with a correlation coefficient equal to 0.777. Conclusion: The Serbian version of the BCTQ (BCTQSR) was successfully culturally adopted. The BCTQSR was a valid and reliable instrument for the measurement of symptom severity and functional status in adults with CTS. Therefore, it can be used in clinical practice for patients with CTS.