Non-Surgical Treatments for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

When a person suffers from carpal tunnel syndrome, non-surgical treatments seem to be the most common choice for mild to moderate cases.

Which of these treatments are considered to be the most effective? and a paper was published to give us the evidence.

The study.

The following methods were selected

・Hand braces (collaterals)

・Ultrasound therapy

・Oral steroid therapy

・Diuretics

・Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

・Ergonomic keyboards

・Magnetic Therapy

・Laser acupuncture

・Chiropractic or exercise therapy

・Yoga

At first glance, it looks like the drug system might work, but how did it work?

The conclusion was drawn from 21 papers involving 884 participants.

The results showed

The treatment effects that were significantly different from the control were

・Hand bracing (collaterals)

・Ultrasound therapy

・Oral steroid therapy

・Yoga

Although these were only short-term effects, it seems that these methods may have positive results.

Hand brace (collateral) Significant improvement in symptoms after 4 weeks of treatment.

Weighted mean difference (WMD) -1.07; 95% confidence interval (CI) -1.29 to -0.85) and function (WMD -0.55; 95% CI -0.82 to -0.28)

Significant improvement in symptoms after 7 weeks of treatment (WMD -0.99, 95% CI -1.77 to -0.21), maintained for 6 months (WMD -1.86, 95% CI -2.67 to -1.05)

Oral steroids significantly improved symptoms after 2 weeks of intake.

(WMD -7.23; 95% CI -10.31 to -4.14)

Yoga significantly improved symptoms after 8 weeks of intervention.

(WMD -1.40; 95% CI -2.73 to -0.07)

Carpal manipulation treatment Significant improvement in symptoms 3 weeks after the start of treatment.

(WMD -1.43; 95% CI -2.19 to -0.67)

O'Connor D, Marshall SC, Massy-Westropp N, Pitt V. Nonsurgical treatment (other than steroid injections) for carpal tunnel syndrome. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2003, No. 1. Number: CD003219. doi: 10.1002 / 14651858.CD003219.

These results suggest that non-surgical interventions may provide short-term benefits but require further testing for long-term improvement.

This conclusion immediately piqued my interest in carpal bone manipulation, but I was a little puzzled by the lack of support for other interventions...

I was a little puzzled by the lack of support for other interventions... This is because I have used chiropractic techniques in the past to treat this disease.

I suggested medication, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and exercise therapy because there was certainly no improvement in the symptoms, but I wondered if exercise therapy would also be ineffective if I followed this conclusion.

I have to pursue the interests of the patient rather than my own, so I have to look into the possibility of carpal bone manipulation.