How should a nurse ask a client to perform the Phalen test for carpal tunnel syndrome?

The Phalen test is a specific assessment used to diagnose carpal tunnel syndrome, which is a condition characterized by compression of the median nerve as it travels through the wrist. The correct method for conducting this test involves having the client hold their hands back to back while flexing the wrists at a 90-degree angle for a duration of 60 seconds.

This positioning increases pressure on the median nerve and is designed to elicit symptoms characteristic of carpal tunnel syndrome, such as numbness, tingling, or pain in the fingers or hands. By flexing the wrists in this manner, practitioners can effectively evaluate the presence of any nerve entrapment or dysfunction associated with carpal tunnel syndrome.

The other choices do not adhere to the accepted method for the Phalen test. Neutral wrist positions, extended arms with rotations, or flexing without contact would not sufficiently provoke the symptoms associated with carpal tunnel syndrome and, therefore, would not provide an accurate assessment.