Acupuncture results in both clinical and morphological improvement of the median nerve at the wrist in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) according to researchers from Turkey. Forty-five limbs of 27 female patients were randomly divided into acupuncture and control groups. All patients used a night wrist splint, and patients in the acupuncture group received additional needling at nine acupuncture points (Daling P-7, Ximen P-4, Neiguan P-6, Laogong P-8, Qingling HE-2, Shenmen HE-7, Shaofu HE-8, Taiyuan LU-9 and Quchi L.I.-11). Acupuncture treatment was applied two or three times a week for four weeks (a total of 10 sessions). While symptom severity, hand function and electromyographic measurements improved in both groups, the improvements were significantly higher in the acupuncture group. In addition, the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the median nerve, which is associated with the severity of CTS (the nerve can enlarge due to swelling) significantly decreased in the acupuncture group, whereas there was no change in the control group.
The Acupuncture Effect on Median Nerve Morphology in Patients with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: An Ultrasonographic Study. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2017;2017:7420648.
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