title: Randomized controlled trial comparing acupuncture with placebo acupuncture for the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the efficacy of acupuncture for the treatment of mild to moderate carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Single-center study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-one acupuncture-naïve adult subjects with mild to moderate CTS enrolled in the study. Thirty-four subjects completed the study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical diagnosis of CTS was supported by electrodiagnostic findings. Subjects were randomly assigned to either (1) acupuncture (n = 21) or (2) placebo acupuncture (n = 20) with use of Streitberger placebo acupuncture needles. Both groups received weekly sessions of acupuncture for 6 weeks. Wrist braces were provided to both groups to wear at night, and compliance was monitored.
  
  
  METHODS
  The primary outcome measurement was subject-reported change in the Carpal Tunnel Self Assessment Questionnaire (CTSAQ) Symptom and Function scales immediately after and at 2 weeks and 3 months after the final treatment. The secondary outcomes included tip and key pinch strength and combined sensory index.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with pretreatment baseline values, subjects in the acupuncture group had 0.58 improvement (P = .03) on the CTSAQ Symptom scale score at 3 months after the last treatment, whereas 0.81 improvement (P = .001) was noted in the placebo acupuncture group. No statistically significant difference was found between the groups treated with acupuncture and placebo acupuncture with respect to improvement in CTS symptoms, function, tip/key pinch, or combined sensory index.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To our knowledge, this study is the first randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded prospective study of traditional acupuncture for CTS. Both the treatment and placebo groups demonstrated improvements from baseline. Acupuncture was not shown to be superior to placebo acupuncture when used in conjunction with bracing for patients with mild to moderate CTS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, University of California, Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA, USA. elisayao08@gmail.com
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Peter K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Gerritz
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Henricson
authors.forename: Ted
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Abresch
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jay
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Kenten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Holly
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001915:Braces; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009339:Needles; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012677:Sensation; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome