I’m a business analyst/computer programmer, so my decisions are based on sound logic and scientific findings.  Therefore I needed proof that wrist braces actually help to alleviate the symptoms of carpal tunnel, I had to be convinced beyond just internet sites, product claims and user reviews. I needed to find a medical study that concluded with no uncertainty that wrist braces do in fact provide relief for carpal tunnel syndrome sufferers.

And, I finally found such a study (see abstract below) that not only concluded with sound data that they absolutely do provide relief, but that the benefits of using the braces during the study were still with the patients for at least six months after the study.

Neutral wrist splinting in carpal tunnel syndrome: a 3- and 6-months clinical and neurophysiologic follow-up evaluation of night-only splint therapy.

Premoselli S, Sioli P, Grossi A, Cerri C.

Unit of Neurorehabilitation, Trabattoni-Ronzoni Hospital, Seregno, Milan, Italy.

Abstract

AIM: The aim of the study was to evaluate the long-term efficacy of night-only splint wear therapy for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).

METHODS: We conducted a randomized case-control trial with evaluation after three and six months of follow-up of outpatients with mild, recent onset symptoms of CTS recruited from the department clinic. Fifty patients (50 hands) were enrolled, of which 36 completed the study at 6 months. The case group utilized a thermoplastic neutral wrist splint for night-only wear. Outcome measures were instrumental parameters (sensory and motor nerve conduction velocity), symptom and function alterations (as measured by Levine’s self-administered questionnaire), clinical parameters (pressure-provocative and Phalen tests).

RESULTS: Improvements were observed in Levine’s symptom status score at the three-month (P=0.001) and the six-month (P=0.001) follow-up visits, in functional score (P=0.0001) and (P=0.0004), in median distal sensory latency (P=0.01) and (P=0.02), in pressure-provocative test outcome (P=0.01) and (P=0.003), in Phalen test outcome (P=0.04) and (P=0.05) respectively.

CONCLUSION: Symptom relief and neurophysiological improvement after night-only splint wear therapy lasted up to the six-month follow-up visit.

Reference: Premoselli S, Sioli P, Grossi A, Cerri C (2006). “Neutral wrist splinting in carpal tunnel syndrome: a 3- and 6-months clinical and neurophysiologic follow-up evaluation of night-only splint therapy”. Eura Medicophys. 16767058.