Introduction: Carpal tunnel syndrome is one of the most common diseases of the upper limbs, in which due to increased pressure in the carpal tunnel, the median nerve passing through the carpal tunnel is compressed. People most often feel pain, tingling, loss of muscle strength, in severe cases paraesthesia and apparently reduced hand function. The syndrome occurs due to the compression of the median nerve within the carpal tunnel and causes difficulties in performing daily activities that require sufficient muscle strength and full wrist mobility. Purpose: The purpose of the thesis is to determine which interventions are used in the occupational therapy treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome and what is the evidence of their effectiveness. Methods: A systematic review of the literature was used in the thesis following the Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines. The search for articles was conducted in the databases CINHAL, Web of Science, PubMed, Cochrane Library and OT Seeker. The search was limited to articles published between 2012 and 2024. The inclusion criteria for selecting articles for the final analysis were as follows: the articles had to be scientific, written in English or Slovenian, and focused on the role of occupational therapy for people with carpal tunnel syndrome. The collected articles were then assessed for relevance, and those with a score of 3 or higher were evaluated for quality using the Joanna Briggs Institute assessment tools. We classified the articles according to American Associtaion of Occupational Therapists levels of evidence. Results: A total of 15 articles were included in the final analysis. In the thematic synthesis of the articles, we identified 2 main themes, which were further categorized into 4 subthemes. Occupational therapists help people with carpal tunnel syndrome manage symptoms and improve hand function through education, environmental adaptations, the use of splints and activities for improving mobility and muscle strength. Discussion and conclusion: In treatment, occupational therapists use various interventions to help the person to manage the symptoms, thereby improving the function of the hand itself. Occupational therapy treatments for carpal tunnel syndrome include education, adaptation of activity performance and environment, use of a splint, and activities to improve range of motion and muscle strenght of a hand. The most significant effects of occupational therapy treatment are seen in the reduction of carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms, improvement in hand functionality, and better quality of life and satisfaction for a person. This systematic review of the literature provides the possibility for more effective occupational therapy treatment for individuals with carpal tunnel syndrome, allowing occupational therapists to better select appropriate treatments and be better prepared to work with individuals suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome
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