Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.
PeerJ. 2023 May 18;11:e15398. doi: 10.7717/peerj.15398. eCollection 2023.
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a prevalent entrapment neuropathy resulting in hand pain, numbness and/or weakness, which significantly impairs hand function in daily activities. Repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation (rPMS) is a potential therapeutic option for focal peripheral nerve disease and may be beneficial for CTS treatment. We aimed to compare the effects of rPMS and conventional therapy in the management of CTS.
A blinded assessor randomly assigned 24 participants with electrodiagnostically-confirmed mild or moderate CTS to either rPMS or conventional therapy. Both groups were briefed on disease progression and tendon-gliding exercises. In the intervention group, the rPMS protocol, five sessions of rPMS-with a frequency of 10 Hz, 10 pulses/train, and 100 trains/session-were performed over a period of 2 weeks, with three sessions in the first week and two sessions in the second week. At baseline and the end of the second week, the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire, pinch strength, and electrodiagnostic results were evaluated.
The rPMS group demonstrated significantly greater within-group improvement in symptom severity scores (2.3 . 1.6, = 0.009) and pinch strength (10.6 lbs . 13.8 lbs, < 0.001). Regarding electrodiagnostic parameters, sensory nerve action potential (SNAP) amplitude was significantly increased (8.7 µV . 14.3 µV, = 0.002) within the group treated with rPMS. With conventional therapy, there were no statistically significant within-group differences. Multiple linear regression models showed that there were no significant differences in other outcomes in between-group comparisons.
Five sessions of rPMS resulted in significant reduction in symptom severity, improvement in pinch strength and increase in SNAP amplitude. Future research should investigate the clinical utility of rPMS using a larger sample and longer treatment and follow-up durations.
腕管综合征（CTS）是一种常见的神经卡压性疾病，可导致手部疼痛、麻木和/或无力，严重影响手部日常活动功能。重复外周磁刺激（rPMS）是一种治疗局灶性周围神经疾病的潜在治疗选择，可能对 CTS 的治疗有益。我们旨在比较 rPMS 和常规治疗在 CTS 管理中的疗效。
一位盲法评估员将 24 名经电诊断确诊为轻度或中度 CTS 的参与者随机分配至 rPMS 或常规治疗组。两组均接受疾病进展和肌腱滑动练习的指导。在干预组中，rPMS 方案为在两周内进行五次 rPMS 治疗，频率为 10 Hz，10 个脉冲/训练，100 个训练/次，每周三次，第二周两次。在基线和第二周结束时，评估波士顿腕管问卷、捏力和电诊断结果。
rPMS 组在症状严重程度评分（2.3. 1.6， = 0.009）和捏力（10.6 磅. 13.8 磅， < 0.001）方面表现出显著的组内改善。对于电诊断参数，感觉神经动作电位（SNAP）幅度在接受 rPMS 治疗的组内显著增加（8.7 µV. 14.3 µV， = 0.002）。常规治疗组在组内无统计学差异。多元线性回归模型显示，组间比较无其他结局的显著差异。
五次 rPMS 治疗可显著减轻症状严重程度，提高捏力，并增加 SNAP 幅度。未来的研究应使用更大的样本量和更长的治疗及随访时间来探讨 rPMS 的临床应用。
