Carpal tunnel syndrome: manual therapy instead of surgery

Until now, surgery was the only option for those suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome. Now a study published in the renowned Deutsches Ärzteblatt has come to the conclusion that manual therapy is just as effective as surgery.

Medical journal study: Manual therapy is better than surgery!

In the study in the German medical journal , the effects of surgery were compared with weekly manual therapy. 50 of the 100 participants underwent surgery, all of whom had pain and numbness in the area supplied by the median nerve for at least 6 months.

The pressure pain, temperature pain and cold pain thresholds were determined on a scale of 0-10 before therapy and three, six, nine and 12 months afterwards.

According to the study , the manually treated patients even reported a lower pain intensity after 3 months than the patients who had undergone surgery. In the non-operated patients, the pressure pain threshold after 3, 6 and 9 months was even higher than in the operated women. They were therefore less sensitive to pain!

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a widespread condition: 10% of people suffer from it.

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common nerve compression syndrome. It is estimated that around 10% of the population will develop CTS in the course of their lives.

The causes of a narrowing of the carpal tunnel, in which the nerve runs, include anatomy, mechanical strain on the wrist or inflammation. CTS causes radiating pain and hypersensitivity to temperature as a result of central sensitization.

Patients who wish to avoid surgery can perform manual therapy themselves using the new curpal® therapy device. curpal® is a new treatment method for carpal tunnel syndrome that can be used to avoid surgery by stretching the carpal tunnel.

curpal® does the same as surgery: no cutting, no side effects.

Using a cuff in combination with a hand pump and a manometer, a two-minute pressure of 180 to 200 mmHg treats the constriction in the carpal tunnel. With three applications per day, significant improvements can be seen after just a few weeks.

The cuff of the curpal system is shaped like the letter C. The ingenious principle of the treatment is that the hand can be inserted into this C. When you press the hand pump supplied, the air cushions in the curpal® handpiece are inflated in a similar way to a blood pressure monitor, creating a spring-like tension that stretches the carpal canal.

Strictly speaking, this stretches the tight ligament over the carpal canal and widens the carpal tunnel. The stretching gives the median nerve running through the carpal canal more space, the pressure on the nerve decreases and the symptoms of nerve pressure, such as tingling in the fingers, pain at night or numbness, subside.

curpal® is ideal for pregnant women.

As the gentle method has no side effects, it can be used at any time and is even suitable for pregnant women, who usually only suffer from the symptoms temporarily anyway.

curpal® is a development of the company bayer Feinwerk based in Villingen-Schwenningen. The main focus of bayer Feinwerk is the development of medical technology solutions. curpal® is a simple, efficient and gentle treatment method for alleviating carpal tunnel syndrome.

Study in the German Medical Journal

A study in the German Medical Journal shows that manual therapy is just as effective as surgery.

The randomized study concludes that manual and surgical forms of treatment improve the radiating pressure pain sensitivity in carpal tunnel syndrome similarly well over a period of 12 months.

With the new curpal® therapy device, patients can now even carry out this manual therapy themselves and at home.

Click here for the study, published in the German Medical Journal.