Carpal Tunnel SyndromeNCT07086846
Effect of Myofascial Release Versus Acupressure on Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in Postnatal Period
A study testing Night splint, Myofascial release technique and Acupressure in people with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, run by Cairo University at 1 site in Egypt.
Trial summary
This study will be conducted to compare the effect of myofascial release and acupressure on postnatal carpal tunnel syndrome. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 25 to 35 years, women only
- Conditions the study is for
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- What is being tested?
- Night splint, Myofascial release technique and Acupressure
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 60 participants
- Where
- 1 siteEgypt
- Study dates
- 27 Jul 2025to 30 Oct 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 25 to 35 years
- Women only
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Postpartum women with mild to moderate carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).
- Their ages will range from 25 to 35 years old.
- Their body mass index (BMI) will range from 25 to 30 Kg/m2.
- The electrophysiological evidence of mild or moderate median nerve lesion at wrist (mild: sensory nerve conduction velocity slow on finger/wrist measurement, sensory nerve latency >3.5 ms, normal terminal motor latency; moderate: sensory potential preserved with motor slowing, distal motor latency to abductor pollicis brevis (APB) < 6.5 ms)
- Positive phalen's test.
- Positive tinel's test.
- Unilateral or bilateral carpal tunnel affection will be included.
Who cannot join
- History of brachial plexopathy or malignancy.
- Radial, ulnar neuropathy, proximal median neuropathy or polyneuropathy.
- Previous wrist surgery or steroid injection for CTS.
- History of trauma, fracture, deformity or inflammation in the wrist, such as rheumatoid arthritis.
- Coagulation abnormalities, pregnancy, fever and infections.
- Skin disease and skin cancer.
- Spots, birthmarks or tattoos over the work points.
- Pacemaker and implementable medical devices.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
About this study
This study will be conducted to compare the effect of myofascial release and acupressure on postnatal carpal tunnel syndrome.
Read the detailed description
Various factors, such as an increase in body mass index (BMI), hormones (relaxin), fluid redistribution, and maternal age, are involved in the etiology of pregnancy related carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). In terms of prognosis, although it has been reported that pregnancy related CTS generally regresses completely spontaneously or with conservative treatment methods after birth, residual symptoms and neurophysiological findings that require surgical decompression up to a year after birth have also been reported.
In clinical practice guidelines, conservative treatment is recommended for mild and moderate cases, while a surgical approach is recommended for patients with severe CTS . Some clinical conditions such as hormonal alteration and edema for menopause and pregnancy due to alteration of the fluid balance in the body.
Myofascial release is considered a safe, non-invasive, and simple method for decreasing pain intensity and numbness sensation severity and for improving hand function in pregnant women with CTS.
Acupressure is the supportive therapies based on Chinese medicine. Pressure is applied to the affected areas without the use of needles. PC7 or the Daling point is especially considered when managing CTS; it was found to cause an increase of endomorpin-1, beta-endorphin, serotonin, dopamine, and enkephalin levels in the brain tissues and plasma. Acupressure was found to be more effective compared to the placebo and splints re- garding the functional status and nerve conduction studies.
- Conditions
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Being tested
- Night splint, Myofascial release technique, Acupressure, Home advice
- Medical subject headings
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Night splintOther
All participants will be treated conservatively by wrist splint in a neutral position.
Myofascial release techniqueOther
The participant will receive myofascial release using M2T blade. It will be applied on the carpal tunnel over and above the wrist creases on the ventral aspect of the forearm for 15 minutes, 3 sessions weekly for 6 weeks (total of 18 sessions).
AcupressureOther
It will be applied on the pericardium 6 point (PC-6) for 3 minutes, three times per week for 6 weeks (total of 18 sessions).
It is located on the palm side of the wrist a couple of inches toward the body in between the two tendons (palmaris longus \& flexor carpi radialis) that run approximately down the center of the forearm.
Home adviceOther
The participants will be asked to follow important advices like supporting the wrists during activity and ensuring proper posture, avoiding wrist flexion and extension, avoiding hard clutches, holding or carrying objects for a long time, catching with fingers, repetitive hand and wrist movement such as knitting or sewing, driving, activities and hobbies such as golf, tennis, table tennis.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Myofascial release technique | Experimental | The participants will receive myofascial release, for 15 minutes, three times per week for 6 weeks (total of 18 sessions), in addition to night splint and home advice. Receives: Other: Night splint; Other: Myofascial release technique; Other: Home advice |
| Acupressure | Experimental | The participants will receive acupressure on pericardium 6 acupoint (PC-6 point) for 3 minutes, three times per week for 6 weeks (total of 18 sessions), in addition to night splint and home advice. Receives: Other: Night splint; Other: Acupressure; Other: Home advice |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Pain intensity
The visual analogue scale (VAS) will be used to assess pain intensity before and after intervention. The VAS is usually presented as a 10-cm horizontal line on which the patient's pain intensity is represented by a point between the extremes of "no pain at all" and "worst pain imaginable."
Measured: 6 weeks
Sensory conduction velocity
Electromyography device (Tru Trace EMG, 2ch Head box device, manufactured by deymed Diagnostic Pvt., Ltd., Czech Republ) will be used to assess sensory conduction velocity of median nerve before and after the treatment. A pair of ring electrodes will be placed on the index finger for recording, and the sensory nerve will be stimulated antidromically. The stimulating electrodes will be placed at the wrist proximal to carpal tunnel for the distal segment stimulation and at the elbow medial to biceps tendon for the proximal segment stimulation.
Conduction velocity is the speed at which the electrical signal travels along the nerve. A reduced velocity can also indicate nerve damage. Its normal range is from 44-60 ms.
Measured: 6 weeks
Sensory distal latency
Electromyography device (Tru Trace EMG, 2ch Head box device, manufactured by deymed Diagnostic Pvt., Ltd., Czech Republ) will be used to assess sensory distal latency of median nerve before and after the treatment. A pair of ring electrodes will be placed on the index finger for recording, and the sensory nerve will be stimulated antidromically. The stimulating electrodes will be placed at the wrist proximal to carpal tunnel for the distal segment stimulation and at the elbow medial to biceps tendon for the proximal segment stimulation. The distal motor latency is measured from the onset of the stimulating artifact to the onset of the compound muscle action potential. Its normal range is from 2.5-3.5 ms.
Measured: 6 weeks
Median nerve amplitude
The amplitude of the median nerve (specifically, the sensory nerve action potential, or SNAP) will be measured by electromyography (Tru Trace EMG, 2ch Head box device, manufactured by deymed Diagnostic Pvt., Ltd., Czech Republ) during nerve conduction study before and after treatment. It is measured in microvolts (µV) and reflects the number of nerve fibers conducting the electrical signal. During a nerve conduction study, a small electrical stimulus is applied to the median nerve, and the resulting electrical activity is recorded. The amplitude is then measured as the height of the waveform generated by this activity. Its normal value should be at least 6 microvolt (6 µV).
Measured: 6 weeks
Secondary outcomes (1)
Assessment of severity of carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms
Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire will be used before and after intervention. It comprises two scales, a symptom severity scale (SSS) and a functional status scale (FSS). The SSS evaluates symptoms with regard to severity, frequency, and time. The FSS indicates how the syndrome affects daily life. SSS involves 11 questions, addressing: pain intensity during day time and night time, time of pain during the day, numbness, weakness, tingling sensation at night, frequency of night tingling sensation, and skill. Each question offers 5 answers, from 0 points (no symptoms) to 4 points (most severe symptoms). Questions concerning FSS refer to daily activities that will be performed by most individuals and are commonly affected by CTS. The patients rate their ability to perform each activity on a scale that ranged from 1 point (no difficulty with the activity) to 5 points (cannot perform the activity at all).The overall score for the FSS is the mean of the ratings on the daily activities.
Measured: 6 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted25 Jul 2025
- Study start27 Jul 2025 (estimated)
- Primary completion20 Oct 2025 (estimated)
- Study completion30 Oct 2025 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Carpal Tunnel SyndromeStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Cairo UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 60 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Cairo University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Amr Kamal Abd El-Aal Mansour, Cairo University
- Investigators
- Afaf Botla, Professor, Study director, Cairo UniversitySoheir El-kosery, Professor, Study chair, Cairo University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07086846
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 012/005373
- Status last verified
- Jul 2025
- First submitted
- 18 Jul 2025
- Last updated
- 25 Jul 2025
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 25 Jul 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effect of Myofascial Release Versus Acupressure on Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in Postnatal Period
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07086846
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 012/005373
- Conditions
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 60 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Cairo UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 27 Jul 2025 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 20 Oct 2025 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 30 Oct 2025 (estimated)
- First posted
- 25 Jul 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study will be conducted to compare the effect of myofascial release and acupressure on postnatal carpal tunnel syndrome.
Detailed description
Various factors, such as an increase in body mass index (BMI), hormones (relaxin), fluid redistribution, and maternal age, are involved in the etiology of pregnancy related carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). In terms of prognosis, although it has been reported that pregnancy related CTS generally regresses completely spontaneously or with conservative treatment methods after birth, residual symptoms and neurophysiological findings that require surgical decompression up to a year after birth have also been reported.
In clinical practice guidelines, conservative treatment is recommended for mild and moderate cases, while a surgical approach is recommended for patients with severe CTS . Some clinical conditions such as hormonal alteration and edema for menopause and pregnancy due to alteration of the fluid balance in the body.
Myofascial release is considered a safe, non-invasive, and simple method for decreasing pain intensity and numbness sensation severity and for improving hand function in pregnant women with CTS.
Acupressure is the supportive therapies based on Chinese medicine. Pressure is applied to the affected areas without the use of needles. PC7 or the Daling point is especially considered when managing CTS; it was found to cause an increase of endomorpin-1, beta-endorphin, serotonin, dopamine, and enkephalin levels in the brain tissues and plasma. Acupressure was found to be more effective compared to the placebo and splints re- garding the functional status and nerve conduction studies.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Myofascial release technique | Experimental | Other: Night splint, Other: Myofascial release technique, Other: Home adviceThe participants will receive myofascial release, for 15 minutes, three times per week for 6 weeks (total of 18 sessions), in addition to night splint and home advice. |
| Acupressure | Experimental | Other: Night splint, Other: Acupressure, Other: Home adviceThe participants will receive acupressure on pericardium 6 acupoint (PC-6 point) for 3 minutes, three times per week for 6 weeks (total of 18 sessions), in addition to night splint and home advice. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 25 to 35 years
- Sex
- Female only
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Postpartum women with mild to moderate carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).
- Their ages will range from 25 to 35 years old.
- Their body mass index (BMI) will range from 25 to 30 Kg/m2.
- The electrophysiological evidence of mild or moderate median nerve lesion at wrist (mild: sensory nerve conduction velocity slow on finger/wrist measurement, sensory nerve latency >3.5 ms, normal terminal motor latency; moderate: sensory potential preserved with motor slowing, distal motor latency to abductor pollicis brevis (APB) < 6.5 ms)
- Positive phalen's test.
Key exclusion criteria (8 listed)
- History of brachial plexopathy or malignancy.
- Radial, ulnar neuropathy, proximal median neuropathy or polyneuropathy.
- Previous wrist surgery or steroid injection for CTS.
- History of trauma, fracture, deformity or inflammation in the wrist, such as rheumatoid arthritis.
- Coagulation abnormalities, pregnancy, fever and infections.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Night splintAll participants will be treated conservatively by wrist splint in a neutral position. | Other | Acupressure, Myofascial release technique |
| Myofascial release techniqueThe participant will receive myofascial release using M2T blade. It will be applied on the carpal tunnel over and above the wrist creases on the ventral aspect of the forearm for 15 minutes, 3 sessions weekly for 6 weeks (total of 18 sessions). | Other | Myofascial release technique |
| AcupressureIt will be applied on the pericardium 6 point (PC-6) for 3 minutes, three times per week for 6 weeks (total of 18 sessions). It is located on the palm side of the wrist a couple of inches toward the body in between the two tendons (palmaris longus \& flexor carpi radialis) that run approximately down the center of the forearm. | Other | Acupressure |
| Home adviceThe participants will be asked to follow important advices like supporting the wrists during activity and ensuring proper posture, avoiding wrist flexion and extension, avoiding hard clutches, holding or carrying objects for a long time, catching with fingers, repetitive hand and wrist movement such as knitting or sewing, driving, activities and hobbies such as golf, tennis, table tennis. | Other | Acupressure, Myofascial release technique |
Primary outcome
Pain intensity
Time frame: 6 weeks
The visual analogue scale (VAS) will be used to assess pain intensity before and after intervention. The VAS is usually presented as a 10-cm horizontal line on which the patient's pain intensity is represented by a point between the extremes of "no pain at all" and "worst pain imaginable."
Sensory conduction velocity
Time frame: 6 weeks
Electromyography device (Tru Trace EMG, 2ch Head box device, manufactured by deymed Diagnostic Pvt., Ltd., Czech Republ) will be used to assess sensory conduction velocity of median nerve before and after the treatment. A pair of ring electrodes will be placed on the index finger for recording, and the sensory nerve will be stimulated antidromically. The stimulating electrodes will be placed at the wrist proximal to carpal tunnel for the distal segment stimulation and at the elbow medial to biceps tendon for the proximal segment stimulation. Conduction velocity is the speed at which the electrical signal travels along the nerve. A reduced velocity can also indicate nerve damage. Its normal range is from 44-60 ms.
Sensory distal latency
Time frame: 6 weeks
Electromyography device (Tru Trace EMG, 2ch Head box device, manufactured by deymed Diagnostic Pvt., Ltd., Czech Republ) will be used to assess sensory distal latency of median nerve before and after the treatment. A pair of ring electrodes will be placed on the index finger for recording, and the sensory nerve will be stimulated antidromically. The stimulating electrodes will be placed at the wrist proximal to carpal tunnel for the distal segment stimulation and at the elbow medial to biceps tendon for the proximal segment stimulation. The distal motor latency is measured from the onset of the stimulating artifact to the onset of the compound muscle action potential. Its normal range is from 2.5-3.5 ms.
Median nerve amplitude
Time frame: 6 weeks
The amplitude of the median nerve (specifically, the sensory nerve action potential, or SNAP) will be measured by electromyography (Tru Trace EMG, 2ch Head box device, manufactured by deymed Diagnostic Pvt., Ltd., Czech Republ) during nerve conduction study before and after treatment. It is measured in microvolts (µV) and reflects the number of nerve fibers conducting the electrical signal. During a nerve conduction study, a small electrical stimulus is applied to the median nerve, and the resulting electrical activity is recorded. The amplitude is then measured as the height of the waveform generated by this activity. Its normal value should be at least 6 microvolt (6 µV).
1 secondary outcome
Assessment of severity of carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms
Time frame: 6 weeks
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 25 Jul 2025.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Afaf Botla, Professor study director
Cairo University
Soheir El-kosery, Professor study chair
Cairo University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Night splint, Myofascial release technique and Acupressure in people with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, run by Cairo University at 1 site in Egypt.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 7 inclusion and 8 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 25 Jul 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Egypt. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Amr Abd El-Aal, PHD (01113697786, ak9779825@gmail.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Pain intensity (time frame: 6 weeks). The study lists 4 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 25 Jul 2025.