Efficacy of Upper Limb Orthosis in Pregnant Women Presenting with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Abstract

Objective: To find the efficacy of orthosis on the symptoms of CTS in pregnant women and to investigate the impact of use of
CTS splint on symptom relief in pregnant women with CTS.

Methods: A randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted involving 28 pregnant women diagnosed with CTS. Fourteen
participants were assigned to the intervention group, receiving upper limb orthosis for four weeks, while the remaining 14
comprised the control group. Outcome measures were assessed using the Modified Boston Questionnaire (MBQ), focusing on
symptoms such as tingling, numbness, discomfort task difficulty and weakness.

Results: Before the intervention, the distribution of patients based on symptom severity according to the Modified Boston
Questionnaire (MBQ) showe d that 85.7% experienced numbness or tingling, 71.4% reported pain or discomfort, 78.6% woke
up at night due to symptoms, and 100% had difficulty grasping small objects, difficulty with activities, and weakness in hands
or fingers. After the intervention, the intervention group demonstrated a significant reduction in MBQ scores (96.5%) and
symptoms (92.9%), compared to the control group (3.5% and 7.1%, respectively). The t-test analysis revealed a significant
difference (p < .001) between the intervention and control groups, indicating the efficacy of upper limb orthosis in pregnant
women presenting with CTS.

Conclusion: The study demonstrates the effectiveness of upper limb orthosis in reducing symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome
(CTS) among pregnant women . With a significant reduction in MBQ scores and symptoms severity observed in the
intervention group compared to control over a four -week period, early intervention with orthosis proves beneficial. These
findings tell the importance of timely diagnosis an d conservative management in alleviating CTS symptoms during pregnancy,
potentially minimizing the need for more invasive interventions.

Keywords: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Pregnancy, PRCTS, Wrist Splint, Upper limb orthosis, Median Nerve.