Ultrasonographic measurement of median nerve and wrist skin thickness in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome: relationship with clinical, electrophysiologic and functionality.

The study aimed to investigate the relationship between the proximal and distal cross-sectional area (CSA) of the median nerve and wrist skin thickness measured by ultrasound in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), demographics, disease characteristics, electrophysiological measurements, symptom severity, functionality, and symptom severity. 98 patients with electrophysiological diagnoses of CTS in the dominant hand were included in the study. Proximal and distal CSAs of the median nerve and wrist skin thickness were measured ultrasonographically. Demographic and disease characteristics of the patients were recorded. Patients were evaluated with the Historical-Objective scale (Hi- Ob) for clinical staging, the Functional status scale (FSS) for functional status, and the Boston symptom severity scale (BSSS) for symptom severity. Ultrasonographic findings were correlated with demographic and disease characteristics, electrophysiological findings, Hi-Ob scala, Functional status scale (FSS), and Boston symptom severity scale (BSSS). Proximal median nerve CSA median was 11.0 (7.0-14.0) mm2, distal median nerve CSA median was 10.5 (5.0-18.0) mm2, and wrist skin thickness was measured 1.10 (0.6-1.40) mm. Median nerve CSAs were positively correlated with the CTS stage and FSS, negatively correlated with the sensory nerve action potential of the median nerve (SNAP) and the compound muscle action potential of the median nerve (CMAP) ( p<0.05). Wrist skin thickness was positively correlated with disease characteristics, including the presence of paresthesia and loss of dexterity and FSS and BSSS levels. Ultrasonographic measurements in CTS are associated with functionality rather than demographics. Especially the increase in wrist skin thickness leads to an increase in symptom severity.

COVID-19 pandemic-induced physical inactivity: the necessity of updating the Global Action Plan on Physical Activity 2018-2030.

To prevent and reduce inactivity, the World Health Organization (WHO) designed a global plan called Global Action Plan on Physical Activity 2018-2030 (GAPPA) in 2017. In this plan and according to the state of physical activity in 2016, actions and goals were set. However, the world is facing a COVID-19 pandemic, which has affected various aspects of lifestyle, including physical activity. Some studies have shown that physical activity reduced during the pandemic. For this reason, the WHO should review the GAPPA and update goals and actions according to the state of physical activity in 2020.