EFFECTS OF NERVE GLIDING EXERCISES ON ULNAR-SIDED WRIST PAIN

NCT07358507 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 2025-1761
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 34
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

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.

Conditions

Ulnar Wrist Pain

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Pain Level

  Pain level will be evaluated using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain at rest, during activity, and at night.

  From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• Wrist Function

  Baseline and 4 weeks.

• Grip Strength

  Baseline and 4 weeks

• Wrist Strength

  Baseline and 4 weeks

• Weight Bearing Tolerance

  Baseline and 4 weeks

• Joint Position Sense

  Baseline and 4 weeks.

Study Arms (2)

Control Group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

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

Other: Conventional Physiotherapy

Mobilization Group

EXPERIMENTAL

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.

Other: Ulnar Nerve Gliding Exercises; Other: Conventional Physiotherapy

Interventions

Ulnar Nerve Gliding Exercises OTHER

Ulnar nerve gliding exercises will be performed twice a week in the clinic for 4 weeks. Participants will also perform these exercises as a home program 3 times daily.

Mobilization Group

Conventional Physiotherapy OTHER

Includes patient education, activity modification, classic massage along the ulnar nerve trace, and ice application (10-12 minutes) at the end of each session.

Control Group; Mobilization Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• 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).

You may not qualify if:

• 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.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Gazi University: lead
• Ankara University: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Gazi University Health Sciences Faculty Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Department

Ankara, Turkey (Türkiye)

RECRUITING

Central Study Contacts

Ceren Zorluogullari

CONTACT

+905068674887; cerenzorluo@gmail.com

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Master's Student

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 14, 2026
• First Posted: January 22, 2026
• Study Start: October 23, 2025
• Primary Completion: February 1, 2026
• Study Completion: February 1, 2026
• Last Updated: January 22, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-01

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)