Management strategies with uncertain benefit and potential harm for carpal tunnel syndrome

Ostergaard, 2020

Studies of acupuncture for treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome have mixed results. A 2018 Cochrane review1 reported little or no evidence that acupuncture was better than placebo or sham therapy, but recommended larger and better-quality studies were requiredChoi, 2018.

Evidence indicates that, in carpal tunnel syndrome, there are no benefits from:

  • diuretic use (including in pregnancy-induced carpal tunnel syndrome)
  • magnetic therapy
  • laser acupuncture
  • chiropractic treatment.

There is insufficient evidence to support the following therapies in carpal tunnel syndrome:

  • oral corticosteroids
  • oral gabapentin
  • therapeutic ultrasound
  • hand therapy (eg exercise, mobilisation)
  • iontophoresis.
1 Choi GH, Wieland LS, Lee H, Sim H, Lee MS, Shin BC. Acupuncture and related interventions for the treatment of symptoms associated with carpal tunnel syndrome. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2018;12(12):Cd011215. [URL] Return