Journal of Anesthesiology and Pain Research

Effects of Acupuncture Therapy on Clinical and Electrophysiological Findings in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Abstract

Nuray Bilge and Recep Demir

Investigating clinical and electrophysiological activity of manual body acupuncture therapy on patients with mild and moderate CTS diagnosis was aimed. In this study, patients diagnosed with mild-moderate level CTS by the clinic and Electromyography (EMG) in first 2 weeks, 3 sessions were performed followed by 2 sessions for 2 weeks and each session was for 30 minutes, a total of 10 sessions of acupuncture practice were performed. In acupuncture therapy, dry needling was practiced using PC-3, PC-6, and PC-7 points. Patients were evaluated by electrocardiographic parameters, paresthesia (numbness, tingling), Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Boston Scale (Symptom Severity and Functional Capacity), Tinnel and Phalen test before and at the first and third months of treatment. Out of 40 patients meeting the participation criteria, 37 were able to complete the study and were evaluated for the result. After the treatment, on the symptoms of numbness and tingling, statistically, significant improvements in Phalen test positivity were compared to pre-treatment (p<0.05). Compared to pre-Acupuncture therapy, the VAS score and Boston Symptom Severity scale in the 1st and 3rd month after treatment showed significant improvements (p<0.01). Among electrophysiological parameters, median nerve distal motor latency (mMDL) was significantly healed in 3rd month after the treatment in respect to before treatment (p=0.01). As a result, the effect of acupuncture therapy practiced using PC-3, PC-6, PC-7 points in mild-moderate level CTS treatment on clinical findings was more apparent compared to electrophysiological findings. Acupuncture treatment in mild to moderate CTS may be a reliable symptomatic treatment option in patients with pain and paresthesia complaints.