Subject terms
neuropathic pain, manipulationAcupuncture, motor and sensory performances, ELMT, CTS, CTS.Carpal tunnel syndrome, Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire, Tinel
ENTRAPMENT NEUROPATHY, CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME (CTS)
This study aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of an electroacupuncture-like magnetic therapy (ELMT) and conventional transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). A prospective randomized controlled trial in single-centre was conducted. Thirty-four CTS patients confirmed by electrodiagnostic study were randomized into TENS or ELMT group and completed a six-week treatment program. TENS or ELMT treatment was applied on acupuncture point PC-6 (Neiguan) and one selected hand acupoint. Therapeutic exercises were also included after the electrophysical modality. Their physical signs, motor and sensory performances, Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ) scores, and results of electrodiagnostic study were evaluated. After treatments, both groups demonstrated significantly decreased BCTQ scores and positive rate of Tinel’s sign in the major symptomatic side, which indicated improvements in the symptom severity and physical functions. Significant increases in distal sensory amplitude and nerve conduction velocity of the median nerve were only found in the ELMT group. Our study found either conventional TENS or ELMT plus therapeutic exercises could improve the symptomatology and physical provocation sign of CTS. The ELMT has additional improvement in the nerve conduction in patients with CTS.Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common entrapment neuropathy, and arises from compression of median nerve at the wristCTS diagnosis is often based on clinical symptoms, physical signs, electrophysiological measurements, or image studyMany patients with neuropathic pain would seek for the assistance of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies, such as megavitamins, magnet therapy, acupuncture, herbal remedies, and chiropractic manipulationAcupuncture is another common choice of the CAM therapies