The Effects Of Acupuncture On Clinical And Electrophysiologic Parameters İn Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, İn Addition To Overnight Splint Treatment And Tendon Shifting Exercises.

The Effects Of Acupuncture On Clinical And Electrophysiologic Parameters İn Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Aim: To evaluate the effects of acupuncture on clinical and electrophysiologic parameters in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, in addition to overnight splint treatment and tendon shifting exercises.

Material and Methods: Mean age of the patients in group 1 is 48.0±12.37 and group 2 is 51.3±14.82 (26-83). 30 patients in group 1 received  once a week for a total of 12 sessions  in addition to night splint treatment and tendon shifting exercises. Meanwhile, patients in the second group received night splint treatment and tendon shifting exercises. All the patients in both groups used resting splint and received exercise for 12 weeks. 4 acupuncture points (PC-3, PC-6, PC-7, LU-9) are selected for treatment. 0.25x0.25 needle is placed for 20 minutes. Patients received for  acupuncture treatment was applied once a week for a total of 12 sessions over 10 weeks. Patients are evaluated before and after treatment by using electroneurophysiologic parameters and Boston Scale.

Results: When outcomes were compared between both groups, the Acu group showed more Symptom Severity Scale (SSS) and electroneurophysiological parameters DSL (distal sensory latency)   reduction than the splint and exercise group (p = 0.001), (p=0.025).The other parameters were not statistically significant for both groups.

Conclusions: We observed an improvement in patients who received acupuncture in addition to resting splint and exercise, according to Boston Scale, functional capacity scale and median nerve distal sensory latency

Keywords: Carpal tunnel syndrome, acupuncture, overnight splint, exercises.