EFFECTS OF NERVE GLIDING EXERCISES ON ULNAR-SIDED WRIST PAIN

Gazi University

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Ulnar Wrist Pain

Treatments: Other: Conventional Physiotherapy; Other: Ulnar Nerve Gliding Exercises

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07358507

2025-1761

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to learn if adding specific "nerve gliding" exercises to a standard physical therapy program helps reduce pain and improve hand function in people with ulnar-sided (pinky side) wrist pain.

Participants who have had wrist pain for at least 3 months will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. Both groups will receive a standard treatment program that includes patient education, activity modification, massage, and ice application. One group will also perform specific nerve gliding exercises for the ulnar nerve.

Researchers will evaulate pain level, hand function, strength, weight-bearing tolerance, and joint position sense at the beginning and after 4 weeks of treatment to see if the exercises provide extra benefit. The study treatment period lasts for 4 weeks.

Enrollment: 34 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Being over 18 years of age.
• History of ulnar-sided wrist pain lasting for at least 3 months.
• Diagnosis of ulnar-sided wrist pain confirmed by a hand surgeon, which may include: fractures or dislocations of the 4th and 5th metacarpals, hamate, triquetrum, lunate, pisiform, distal ulna, or distal radius; Lunotriquetral ligament tears; Kienböck's disease; Ulnar impaction syndrome; Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex (TFCC) injury; carpal instabilities; DRUJ instability; pisotriquetral arthritis; DRUJ arthritis; extensor carpi ulnaris (ECU) tendon subluxation; or tendinitis of the ECU, extensor digiti minimi, and flexor carpi ulnaris.
• Adequate cognitive level (scoring 22 or above on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment scale).

Exclusion criteria

• Presence of other diseases involving the hand and wrist (e.g., carpal tunnel syndrome, Dupuytren's disease).
• History of traumatic injury to the hand, wrist, and/or forearm within the last 3 months.
• History of surgery on the hand, wrist, and/or forearm within the last 6 months.
• Currently receiving treatment for hand and wrist problems.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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34 participants in 2 patient groups

Control Group

Active Comparator group

Description:

Participants in this group will receive standard treatment consisting of patient education, activity modification, massage, and ice application for 4 weeks.

Treatment:

Other: Conventional Physiotherapy

Mobilization Group

Experimental group

Description:

Participants in this group will receive standard treatment including patient education, activity modification, massage, and ice application. In addition, they will perform ulnar nerve gliding exercises for 4 weeks.

Treatment:

Other: Ulnar Nerve Gliding Exercises

Other: Conventional Physiotherapy