Laser Acupuncture for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Single-Blinded Controlled Study

Area of Science:

• Integrative and Complementary Medicine
• Neurology
• Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Background:

• Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common condition causing hand numbness and pain.
• Traditional treatments include medication, injections, and surgery.
• Laser acupuncture (LA) offers a non-invasive alternative for symptom management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of laser acupuncture (LA) compared to placebo LA in treating mild-to-moderate idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).
• To assess subjective symptom improvement and objective nerve conduction changes.

Main Methods:

• A randomized, single-blinded, controlled study involving 84 treatment-naive CTS patients.
• Participants received either active LA or placebo LA (device switched off) for 4 weeks.
• Outcomes measured included Global Symptom Score (GSS) and nerve conduction studies (NCSs).

Main Results:

• The LA group showed a significantly greater reduction in GSS at weeks 2 and 4 compared to the placebo group (P < 0.01).
• No significant differences were observed between the groups in nerve conduction studies (NCSs).

Conclusions:

• Laser acupuncture (LA) demonstrates effectiveness in improving subjective symptoms of mild-to-moderate idiopathic CTS.
• LA can be considered a viable alternative therapy for patients seeking non-needle stimulation or avoiding early surgical intervention.