Efficacy of Mirror Therapy in Patients with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Pilot Study

Identifier:  TFG:1774

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/TFG1774

Authors:  Rivadulla Llera, Anna

Abstract:
Objective: The main objective of this pilot study was to evaluate the effects on the functionality and pain, after the use of mirror therapy, of some exercises in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome. Method and materials: The six participants were randomly divided into an intervention group, using the mirror therapy treatment, and placebo group, using another treatment without mirror. During one month of treatment, pain and functionality were assessed before, during and after treatment using validated questionnaires. Pain was assessed using the McGill Pain Questionnaire and Functionality using the Hand, Shoulder, and Hand Disability Questionnaire (DASHe). Result: There is an improvement in both pain and function in the intervention group as opposed to the placebo group. In spite of this, no statistically significant differences were obtained in any of the two categories with a p-value of 0.20. Conclusions: The application of the mirror therapy treatment in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome could improve the functionality and symptomatology. A month of treatment may have been a short time of exposure, because although there are small improvements, there were no statistically significant results.