EFFECTIVENESS OF A PHYSIOTHERAPY PROGRAM FOR OFFICE WORKERS WITH QUERVAIN'S TENOSYNOVITIS AND CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME TO IMPROVE UPPER LIMB FUNCTIONALITY

C.-D. Ravelo-Vargas¹, M.-D. Pérez-Ledesma¹, D.-E. Rueda-Capistran², M. Tamayo-Ortiz²

¹Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Physiotherapy Department, Mexico City, Mexico, ²Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Unidad de Investigación de Salud en el Trabajo, Mexico City, Mexico

Background: Musculoskeletal symptoms in the wrist and hand in office workers are mainly associated with the intense use of computer equipment and lack of rest, and at the same time, repetitive movements and awkward postures as decisive injury mechanisms with an OR=1.1 (1.02-1.22 CI95%). And the most frequent are Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and de Quervain's Tenosynovitis.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a physiotherapy program to improve upper limb functionality in office workers with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and de Quervain's Tenosynovitis.

Methods: For this, a quasi-experimental design was carried out, and the authors collected data before and after treatment. The intervention consisted of a 12-week home stretching, proprioception, neurodynamics, muscle strengthening, and an educational program. Twenty-seven patients entered the study previously diagnosed with both musculoskeletal disorders. Pain intensity was assessed with the Visual Analogue Scale, and functionality was evaluated by the DASH (Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand Scale). t-test and Wilcoxon test were applied.

Results: 77% of the sample corresponds to the female sex with an average age of 42.37±8.34 years. The pain assessment difference between pre and post-intervention was t=7.47 (3.03-5.33 CI95%), and the upper limb functionality assessment with the Wilcoxon test was p= 0.005 in daily life activities and p=0.001 in working activities.

Conclusions: Significant differences in functionality upper limb results were found after treatment with muscle strengthening, proprioception, neurodynamics, stretching, and an educational program. In addition, the experimental technique favored wrist and hand function in work and daily life activities in office workers.

Implications: Regarding the prevalence of pathologies, it was observed that it is more frequent in women. A physiotherapy treatment improves the functionañity of the upper limb in office workers. Adequate adherence to treatment is also essential.

Funding acknowledgements: This project was unfunded

Keywords:
Office workers
Physiotherapy program
Quervain´s Tenosinovitis and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Topics:
Occupational health & ergonomics
Musculoskeletal: upper limb
Musculoskeletal

Did this work require ethics approval? Yes

Institution: Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social

Committee: Comité Nacional de Ética e Investigación Científica

Ethics number: R-2021-785-042