Background: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common entrapment neuropathy. Cervical spine may be involved in individuals with CTS, due to the possibility of double compression. A cervical lesion resulting from postural abnormality like forward head posture (FHP) may predispose patients to CTS. Objective: To investigate the
relationship between FHP and nerve conduction studies in patients with CTS. Subjects: The study involved ninety patients with FHP. They were distributed into two groups: sixty patients with mild to moderate CTS (study group)
and thirty healthy matched subjects (control group). Methods: Both groups underwent electrophysiological studies including motor and sensory nerve conduction velocities (NCV) and motor and sensory distal latencies (DL). Cranio-
vertebral angle (CVA) was measured by lateral photography. Results: In comparing the mean values of measured variables there was a significant difference between both groups (P>0.05). There was a statistically significant
positive correlation between CVA and motor NCV and a significant negative correlation between (CVA) and motor DL, (p= 0.00001 & 0.007 respectively). However, there was no significant correlation between CVA with neither sensory NCV nor sensory DL (P=0.101 & 0.492 respectively). Conclusion: Forward head posture (FHP) is strongly related to motor nerve conduction impairment in patients with CTS |
