Influencia de la thumb move de C7/T1 combinada con el stretching del ligamento anular del carpo sobre el área de sección transversal del nervio mediano en un caso de STC bilateral

Abstract

Objectives

To describe the use of the osteopathic approach in carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and in particular cervicothoracic junction manipulation and stretching of the annular ligament of the carpus.

Clinical characteristics

A 43-year-old woman sought osteopathic treatment with a 2-month history of predominantly left incipient bilateral CTS unresponsive to drug therapy.

Intervention and results

Five treatment sessions were carried out in which the thumb move technique was applied to C7/T1 combined with stretching of the carpal ligament for 5 minutes, both on a bilateral basis. The cross-sectional area of the median nerve changed from 10.8 to 5.0 mm² for the left nerve and from 10.6 to 7.8 mm² for the right nerve, values consistent with a change from CTS to normal status. Increases in both manual grip strength and pain threshold to pressure on the carpal tunnel nerve were achieved.

Conclusions

The satisfactory results obtained in this patient and the improvement in the variables analyzed highlights the importance of osteopathy and, specifically, of the techniques used in the treatment of mild and moderate CTS.