Thumb ManipulationTHUMBFUNNCT07068698
Effects of Thumb Manipulation on Hand Grip Strength, Function, and Sensation
A study testing Thumb Manipulation in people with Thumb Manipulation and Hand Grip Strength, run by SEFA HAKTAN HATIK at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
This randomized controlled study will aim to investigate the effects of thumb manipulation on hand grip strength, function, and sensation in healthy individuals. A total of 60 volunteers aged between 18 and 50 years will be recruited from Ortadağ Special Education and Rehabilitation Center. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 50 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Thumb Manipulation, Hand Grip Strength, Hand Sensory Function
- What is being tested?
- Thumb Manipulation
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 60 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 6 Jul 2025to 6 Sep 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 50 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Aged between 18 and 50
- Willing to participate in the study
- Have signed the informed consent form
- Able to use verbal and written communication skills
Who cannot join
- Having contraindications that may prevent manipulation
- Having a history of congenital or acquired orthopedic or neurological conditions affecting the upper extremity
- Having a history of rheumatological diseases
- Having a history of trauma or surgery affecting the upper extremity
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Turkey (Türkiye)1 site
Sinop University
Sinop
SEFA H HATIK, Asst. Prof., +905058761553, haktanhtk@gmail.com
SEFA H HATIK, Asst. Prof.
About this study
Official title: The Effects of Thumb Manipulation on Hand Grip Strength, Hand Function, and Sensory Parameters
This randomized controlled study will aim to investigate the effects of thumb manipulation on hand grip strength, function, and sensation in healthy individuals. A total of 60 volunteers aged between 18 and 50 years will be recruited from Ortadağ Special Education and Rehabilitation Center. Participants will be randomly assigned to either a chiropractic manipulation group (n=30) or a control group (n=30), with an equal distribution of males and females in each group. The intervention group will receive thumb manipulation twice weekly for 4 weeks, while the control group will not receive any intervention. Outcome measures will include two-point discrimination (assessed with a discriminator), hand grip strength (measured using a dynamometer), pinch strength (evaluated with a pinch meter), and hand function (measured by the Duruöz Hand Index). Statistical analyses will be performed with a significance level set at p<0.05. It is expected that participants in the manipulation group will show greater improvements in all measured parameters compared to the control group, suggesting a positive effect of thumb manipulation on hand-related sensorimotor functions in healthy individuals.
Read the detailed description
This study will be designed as a randomized controlled clinical trial to evaluate the effects of thumb manipulation on hand grip strength, functional ability, and sensory parameters in healthy individuals. Sixty volunteers aged between 18 and 50 years will be recruited from Ortadağ Special Education and Rehabilitation Center. After anthropometric assessments, participants will be randomly assigned into two groups: a chiropractic manipulation group (n=30) and a control group (n=30), with equal numbers of males and females in each group.
The intervention group will undergo thumb manipulation performed by a trained physiotherapist twice a week for four weeks. The control group will not receive any intervention during this period. All participants will be evaluated at baseline, at the end of the 4-week intervention, and at follow-up.
Outcome measures will include:
Hand grip strength, measured using a hand dynamometer, Pinch strength, assessed with a pinch meter on the thumb, index, and middle fingers, Two-point discrimination, evaluated on the thumbs using a discriminator tool, Hand function, assessed using the Duruöz Hand Index. This study will aim to determine whether a short-term thumb manipulation protocol can lead to measurable improvements in sensory and motor functions of the hand in a healthy population. The findings may provide a basis for future research involving clinical populations with hand dysfunction.
- Conditions
- Thumb Manipulation, Hand Grip Strength, Hand Sensory Function, Hand Function in Healthy Individuals, Sensory Function
- Being tested
- Thumb Manipulation
- Keywords
- Thumb manipulation, Chiropractic, Hand grip strength, Hand function, Healthy individuals
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Thumb ManipulationOther
Also called Chiropractic Thumb Manipulation, Manual Thumb Mobilization
This intervention consists of chiropractic manipulation techniques applied specifically to the thumb joint. The manipulation will be performed by a trained physiotherapist twice weekly for 4 weeks. The procedure aims to improve thumb joint mobility, hand grip strength, sensory function, and overall hand function. Each session includes standardized manual therapy maneuvers targeting the thumb's range of motion and soft tissue mobility without the use of any devices or medications. The intervention differs from other manual therapies by focusing solely on the thumb region.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Chiropractic Manipulation Group (CMG) | Experimental | Participants in this group will receive chiropractic manipulation specifically applied to the thumb. The intervention will be administered twice a week for 4 weeks by a trained physiotherapist experienced in manual therapy techniques. Each session will involve standardized manipulation techniques aimed at improving thumb mobility, hand grip strength, sensory function, and overall hand function. No additional interventions or therapies will be provided during the study period. Receives: Other: Thumb Manipulation |
| Control Group (CG) | No intervention | Participants in the control group will not receive any intervention or treatment during the 4-week study period. They will continue their usual daily activities without any specific therapy applied. Outcome measurements will be conducted at the same time points as the intervention group to allow for comparison. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Duruoz Hand Index
The Duruöz Hand Index is a validated self-reported questionnaire used to assess hand function and disability in daily activities. It includes 18 items covering various tasks such as dressing, hygiene, kitchen activities, and carrying objects. Each item is scored on a scale from 0 (no difficulty) to 5 (unable to perform), with higher scores indicating greater hand disability.
Measured: T0 (Baseline, before intervention), T1 (Week 2 of intervention), and T2 (Week 4, end of intervention
Two-Point Discrimination Test
The Two-Point Discrimination Test is used to evaluate sensory perception and tactile acuity. It measures the smallest distance at which two points of contact can be perceived as separate. In this study, the test will be applied to the thumb (right and left) using a standardized discriminator tool. Lower discrimination distances indicate better sensory perception. The test provides objective data on changes in cutaneous sensory function.
Measured: T0 (Baseline, before intervention), T1 (Week 2 of intervention), and T2 (Week 4, end of intervention)
Pinchmeter
Pinch strength will be measured using a standardized pinchmeter to assess lateral, palmar, and tip-to-tip pinch strength in the thumb, index, and middle fingers of both hands. The test will provide quantitative data on fine motor strength and thumb function. Higher values indicate increased pinch strength. The measurement will be used to evaluate the effect of thumb manipulation on hand function.
Measured: T0 (Baseline, before intervention), T1 (Week 2 of intervention), and T2 (Week 4, end of intervention)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted16 Jul 2025
- Study start6 Jul 2025 (estimated)
- Primary completion6 Aug 2025 (estimated)
- Study completion6 Sep 2025 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Thumb ManipulationStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 60 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- SEFA HAKTAN HATIK
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor-investigator, SEFA HAKTAN HATIK, Sinop University
- Investigators
- SEFA H HATIK, Principal investigator, Sinop University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07068698
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- CMT0010
- Acronym
- THUMBFUN
- Status last verified
- Jul 2025
- First submitted
- 7 Jul 2025
- Last updated
- 16 Jul 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No