What Tests Help Diagnose Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Two useful clinical tests for diagnosing carpal tunnel syndrome are the Tinel and Phalen maneuvers. Tingling sensations in the fingers caused by tapping on the palm side of the wrist is a positive Tinel test, whereas reproduction of symptoms by flexing the wrist is a positive Phalen test. (Dr. Phalen created this maneuver many years ago when he was a hand surgeon at The Cleveland Clinic.) If needed, an electromyogram and nerve conduction studies, are done to document the extent of nerve damage. An electromyogram is a test that measures the electrical activity in your nerves and muscles. Nerve conduction studies measure the ability of specific nerves to transmit electrical impulses or messages. These tests, however, may not become positive until there is significant nerve damage. In addition, the severity of a person’s symptoms is often not correlated with the findings of a nerve conduction study.
