An increase in the cross sectional area (thickness) of the median nerve at the wrist is associated with carpal tunnel syndrome. This study showed that not only did acupuncture help with the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, but also reduced the thickness of the median nerve!
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JUNE 07, 2017
Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Ural FG, et al.
This article was written with the objective to investigate the acupuncture impact on the cross–sectional area (CSA) of the median nerve at the wrist in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and, also, to distinguish whether clinical, electrophysiological, and ultrasonographic changes demonstrate any association. After acupuncture therapy, the patients with CTS might have both clinical and morphological improvement.
Methods
- For this research, they conducted an ultrasonographic study.
- 45 limbs of 27 female patients were arbitrarily partitioned into two groups (acupuncture and control).
- In this study, all patients utilized night wrist splint. In the acupuncture group, patients received additional acupuncture therapy.
- Visual analog scale (VAS), Duruöz Hand Index (DHI), Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire scores, electrophysiologic measurements, and median nerve CSAs were noted before and after the treatment in both groups,
Results
- The current study showed that the VAS, DHI, Quick DASH scores, and electrophysiological measurements were enhanced in both groups.
- In this study, the median nerve CSA significantly reduced in the acupuncture group, whereas there was no change in the control group.