THERAPEUTIC TOUCH IN TREATMENT OF CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME

这项拟议的研究试图以腕管综合征作为模型系统来测试治疗性触摸(TT)是否确实对身体组织产生生理影响。与几乎所有其他疼痛综合征不同的是，腕管综合征患者的主观不适症状与客观上存在相关性。本研究采用随机、单盲、交叉试验设计。腕管综合征患者将在一系列每周治疗前后进行正中神经传导测量，并进行治疗性触摸。为了控制治疗性触摸以外的其他因素导致神经传导测量变化的可能性，患者将在TT之前或之后接受一系列“假”治疗。

The proposed study seeks to use carpal tunnel syndrome as a model system to test whether or not Therapeutic Touch (TT) actually has a physiological effect upon the tissues of the body. Unlike virtually every other pain syndrome, there is an objective correlate to the subjective symptoms of discomfort in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome. This study utilizes a randomized, single blind, cross over experimental design. Patients with carpal tunnel syndrome will undergo median nerve conduction measurements before and after a series of weekly treatments with therapeutic touch. In order to control for the possibility that something other than therapeutic touch is responsible for the changes in the nerve conduction measurements, patients will undergo a series of "sham" treatments either before or after the TT.