Effectiveness of Tendon-Gliding Exercises Versus Mobilization with Movement on De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis in Typists: A Randomized Controlled Trial
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Background: De Quervain’s tenosynovitis causes radial-sided wrist pain and impaired hand function and may be aggravated by repetitive occupational hand activity. Evidence directly comparing mobilization with movement and tendon-gliding exercises in typists is limited. Objective: To compare the effects of mobilization with movement and tendon-gliding exercises on pain intensity and hand-related impairment in typists with De Quervain’s tenosynovitis. Methods: This two-group clinical trial included 126 participants recruited from three hospitals in Lahore, Pakistan. Participants were allocated to mobilization with movement or tendon-gliding exercises, with 63 participants in each group. Both groups received hot-pack application and stretching, followed by their assigned intervention three times weekly for four weeks. Pain and hand function were assessed using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale and Michigan Hand Questionnaire at baseline, Week 2, and Week 4. Mixed repeated-measures analysis and between-group comparisons of change scores were performed. Results: At Week 4, NPRS scores decreased from 7.33 ± 1.15 to 2.24 ± 0.89 in the mobilization-with-movement group and from 7.02 ± 1.33 to 5.70 ± 1.10 in the tendon-gliding group. The between-group difference in pain reduction was 3.78 points (95% CI, 3.47–4.09; p < 0.001). The corresponding between-group difference in MHQ improvement was 10.22 points (95% CI, 8.70–11.74; p < 0.001). Significant time-by-treatment interactions were observed for NPRS and MHQ scores. Conclusion: Both interventions were associated with short-term improvement, but mobilization with movement produced greater reductions in pain and hand-related impairment over four weeks. These findings require confirmation using concealed allocation, blinded assessment, verified outcome scoring, and longer follow-up
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