Evaluation of wrist flexor - extansor muscle strength in normal person and patients with carpal tunnel syndrome

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) occures as a result of compression of the median nerve passes through carpal tunnel. Frequency of the CTS in studies were reported to be 0.1-0.5 % in the general population. Muscle weakness at the hands can occur in the patients who determined CTS. Aim of our study was to evaluate the wrist muscle strength that vasaffected by CTS . 26 healthy people and 26 patients with CTS identified by EMG recruited to our study. Cases wrist muscle strength measurements were made using the CSM CYBEX isokinetic dynamometer. The mean age of patients was 51,9 years , while the average of the control group was 47,6. There were bilateral CTS in 15 patients, mild CTS in 13 patients, moderate in 5 patients , severe in 3 patients on the right side and light in 15 patients , moderate in 3 patients, severe in 3 patients on the left side were found. Body mass index(BMİ) was calculated 28,7 in patients and 29,8 in the control-group. 32,65˚ on the right-hand, 33,92˚ in the left-hand was found average extansor range in the patient group, and 32,26 on the right, 34,76 on the left was found in the control group. 64.3˚ on the right hand, 60.73˚ in the left hand was found average flexsor range in the patient-group, and 55.19˚ on the right, 56.42˚ on the left was found in the control-group. Right-hand concentric flexor muscle strength peak value was found to be 8.26±3.92 N/m at 120˚/sec angular velocity, 7.96±3.26 on the left-hand; right-hand concentric ekstansor muscle strength peak value was 5.53 ± 2.21, 5.8 ± 1.95 on the left in the patient-group. Right- hand concentric flexor muscle strength peak value was found 7.92 ± 3.9 at 180˚/sec angular velocity, 7.88 ± 2.65 on the lefthand; right-hand concentric ekstansor muscle strength peak value was 5.53 ±2.17, 5.53 ±2.17 on the left in the patient-group. According to measuring, some peak value of muscle strength in the patient group was significantly different than in the control group. It shows us that hands muscle strength was affected the patients of with CTS. Keywords: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Wrist, Isokinetic.