newellness -Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Yoga

Carpel Tunnel Syndrome and Yoga: The University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine Study
Provided by Rich Chapelle, Certified Kripalu Yoga Instructor

Yoga-based intervention for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
	The department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, USA studied the effects of a yoga-based regimen for relieving symptoms of CTS.

The content of the study and conclusions are as follows:
	From "Yoga-based intervention for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A randomized trial," by M. Garfinkel, A. Singhal, W. Katz, et al, in The Journal of the American Medical Association, November 11, 1998

	CONTEXT:	Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common complication of repetitive activities and causes significant morbidity.

	OBJECTIVE:	To determine the effectiveness of a yoga-based regimen for relieving symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome.

	DESIGN:	Randomized, single-blind, controlled trial.

	SETTING:	A geriatric center and an industrial site in 1994-1995.

	PATIENTS:	Forty-two employed or retired individuals with carpal tunnel syndrome (median age, 52 years; range, 24-77 years).

	INTERVENTION:	Subjects assigned to the yoga group received a yoga-based intervention consisting of 11 yoga postures designed for strengthening, stretching, and balancing each joint in the upper body along with relaxation given twice weekly for 8 weeks. Patients in the control group were offered a wrist splint to supplement their current treatment.

	MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:	Changes from baseline to 8 weeks in grip strength, pain intensity, sleep disturbance, Phalen sign, and Tinel sign, and in median nerve motor and sensory conduction time.

	RESULTS:	Subjects in the yoga groups had significant improvement in grip strength (increased from 162 to 187 mm Hg; P = .009) and pain reduction (decreased from 5.0 to 2.9 mm; P = .02), but changes in grip strength and pain were not significant for control subjects. The yoga group had significantly more improvement in Phalen sign (12 improved vs. 2 in control group; P = .008), but no significant differences were found in sleep disturbance, Tinel sign, and median nerve motor and sensory conduction time.

	CONCLUSION:	In this preliminary study, a yoga-based regimen was more effective than wrist splinting or no treatment in relieving some symptoms and signs of carpal tunnel syndrome.

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