Phalen's test (pushing both hands up into a prayer sign to elicit paraesthesia in the median nerve) and Tinnel's test (tapping the flexor retinaculum to elicit paraesthesia in the median nerve) are both clinical assessments of carpal tunnel syndrome (hence median nerve function).

Although the majority of causes of carpal tunnel syndrome are idiopathic, there are strong associations with

• Pregnancy
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Diabetes mellitus
• Hypothyroidism and
• Dialysis-dependant patients.