Postoperative Functional Recovery After Carpal Tunnel Release: A Narrative Review on Exercise-Based Rehabilitation

Carpal tunnel release is a commonly performed surgical procedure that effectively alleviates compressive symptoms in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome. However, postoperative recovery of hand function, including grip strength, pinch strength, and coordinated hand use, varies considerably among individuals. This variability indicates that functional recovery is influenced by factors beyond the surgical intervention itself. This narrative review synthesizes the existing literature on postoperative functional recovery following carpal tunnel release, with emphasis on functional outcomes, rehabilitation strategies, and exercise-based interventions. Surgical decompression consistently improves sensory symptoms; however, restoration of hand strength and overall functional performance is frequently delayed and heterogeneous. Although early mobilization is generally considered safe, it does not adequately address persistent deficits in strength, coordination, or endurance. Exercise-based rehabilitation approaches-including nerve and tendon gliding exercises and progressive strengthening-are biologically plausible and potentially relevant to postoperative recovery, yet the existing literature is characterized by variability in study design, intervention protocols, and outcome assessment. Postoperative recovery following carpal tunnel release represents a multifactorial process. Exercise-based rehabilitation is a promising but insufficiently studied modifiable component of postoperative care. Well-designed prospective studies are required to clarify its role in optimizing functional recovery after carpal tunnel surgery.