Clinical Effectiveness of Acupuncture for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Ho CY, Lin HC, Lee YC, Chou LW, Kuo TW, Chang HW, Chen YS, Lo SF · The American Journal of Chinese Medicine · 2014 January
DOI 10.1142/S0192415X14500207
Objective
To evaluate acupuncture and electroacupuncture treatments of symptomatic carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) may improve symptoms and aid nerve repair as well as improve sensory and motor functions.
Conclusions
Our findings indicated that electroacupuncture could improve symptomatology, while acupuncture could exert positive therapeutic effects for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) patients, as evidenced by improved symptomatology, grip strength, electrophysiological function, and physical provocation sign.
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Insights
Acupuncture and electroacupuncture treatments can alleviate Carpal Tunnel Syndrome symptoms, enhance nerve repair and improve sensory and motor functions.
The conducted research involved treating 26 confirmed Carpal Tunnel Syndrome patients using acupuncture and electroacupuncture. These patients were divided into two treatment groups based on a neurophysiological grading scale. Fifteen patients were treated with acupuncture and eleven with electroacupuncture, which was administered on both upper limbs at acupoints PC-7 (Daling) and PC-6 (Neiguan) along the pericardial meridian. Each patient underwent a total of 24 treatment sessions lasting 15 minutes each, spread over a period of six weeks.
Evaluation of the results saw improvements in symptom severity after the electroacupuncture treatments. This was based on the short clinical questionnaire by Lo and Chiang, an evaluation method used to gauge symptom severity. Post acupuncture treatment, the patients reported a significant increase in grip strength, particularly on the side more affected by Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. The electrophysiology evaluation also saw a significant improvement in the motor amplitude of the palm-wrist segment. There was also a notable decrease in Tinel's sign on the side more affected by symptoms. This points to both acupuncture and electroacupuncture having clear therapeutic benefits for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome patients.
