Magnetic Therapy for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome 

Overview

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) can be a debilitating condition, caused by pressure on the nerves in your wrist, resulting in tingling, numbness, and pain in your hand and fingers. It is relatively common, with a prevalence of around 1,000-5,000 per 100,000 people, making it the most common peripheral nerve entrapment encountered worldwide.^{1, 2}

Magnetic therapy (also known as magnetic field therapy) involves treating disease and illness through the therapeutic application of magnets on or near a patient’s body. The use of magnets can take many different forms.² Magnetic therapy has been proposed to treat multiple neurological conditions (meaning those affecting the nerves or brain), including migraine, fibromyalgia, and injuries to muscles, ligaments, and tendons.³

Understanding carpal tunnel syndrome 

The carpal tunnel is a narrow, rigid passage on the palmar surface of your wrist, the side with your palm.¹ Surrounded by bones and ligaments, it contains the median nerve and nine tendons responsible for controlling the movement of your fingers. The carpal tunnel protects these important structures as they pass from your forearm to your hand. 

The median nerve is responsible for providing sensation to your thumb and middle, ring, and index finger and controlling the muscles at the base of the thumb. CTS occurs when the median nerve becomes compressed or irritated as it travels through the carpal tunnel.

Causes and risk factors 

CTS can be caused by exposure to repetitive vibrations, forceful angular motions, genetic predispositions, or injuries. Certain conditions including diabetes, pregnancy, and obesity may also be associated with an increased risk. CTS occurs more frequently among people assigned female at birth (AFAB) and the elderly.¹

Anatomical factors, e.g. wrist fractures/dislocations and arthritis, can all affect the carpal tunnel, putting pressure on the median nerve. Also, people with a naturally smaller carpal tunnel are more likely to suffer from CTS later in life. 

Symptoms

Typical symptoms of CTS include:^{1, 3}

• Ache or pain in fingers, hand, or arm
• Numb hands and/or fingers
• Tingling or a ‘pins and needles’ sensation 
• A weak thumb, or difficulty gripping 

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms above, it is important to see a medical professional. Usually, the thumb, index, middle, and ring fingers are affected, but not the little finger as the median nerve does not provide sensation to the little finger. Sensations of pain or tingling may travel from the wrist up the arm. It is common for people with CTS to experience weakness in the hand and drop objects they are holding. 

Diagnosis

The symptoms above may guide the diagnosis, and there are effective manoeuvres that can evoke symptoms of the disease, to further help with diagnosis.

If there is uncertainty over the diagnosis, or if there is a need for objective evaluation on whether or not surgical intervention is required, your doctor might request further tests such as a nerve conduction study, or needle electromyography. These electrodiagnostic tests may also be used if symptoms are moderate to severe to establish whether CPS is acute (short term) or chronic (long term) and whether there is evidence of axonal injury (injury to the nerve fibre).¹

Other forms of testing include ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Conventional treatment options 

Non-surgical treatments 

According to the NHS, there are several steps you can take to treat carpal tunnel syndrome yourself: 

• Wear a wrist splint – this can help to relieve pressure on the nerve by keeping your wrist straight. You can buy splints online or from pharmacies 
• Stop activities that cause frequent bending of the wrist or hand grip, such as tools that vibrate for work, or musical instruments 
• Painkillers such as paracetamol and ibuprofen – help to relieve pain in the short term, but there is little evidence to say they treat the cause, so it is important not to rely on them 

If these options don’t work, your doctor might recommend a steroid injection in the wrist to reduce the swelling. 

Surgical treatments 

If there is significant evidence of axonal injury, carpal tunnel syndrome surgery may be necessary. It is a relatively non-invasive surgical procedure, taking around 20 minutes. It involves a local anaesthetic before a small cut is made in the carpal tunnel so that it no longer puts pressure on the nerve. 

Although surgical release could be beneficial, many patients prefer to seek a non-surgical approach for effective symptom control. 

Magnetic therapy 

The use of magnetic therapy has reported anecdotal success in treating various neurological and musculoskeletal conditions. However, the mechanism of action is largely unknown.⁴ 

The mechanisms may include increased blood flow or even blockage of action potentials such as those that transmit pain signals.⁴ Further research is required to understand this better. 

Magnetic therapy is a relatively low-cost and low-effort treatment type. It involves using specialised magnetic devices. These can include wristbands, bracelets, wraps, or gloves. There are different factors to think about including the strength of the magnetic field and the size and fit of the device, which are all important to discuss with a healthcare professional to work out what would be best for you. The magnet would typically be placed directly over the carpal tunnel region, which is on the wrist or palm of your hand.

Several studies have looked at the effectiveness and safety of magnetic therapy for treating carpal tunnel syndrome.

One such study involved patients with a confirmed CTS diagnosis wearing magnets that delivered 15 or 45 (the measure of the magnitude of a magnetic field) to the carpal tunnel, or a non-magnetic disc. The results found no significant differences in outcome measures between the groups in terms of symptom severity or function. However, each group showed a reduction at six weeks in both parameters, indicating improvements in symptoms.⁵

A similar study involved 22 patients with mild-to-moderate CTS, who wore either a high-dose or low-dose sham magnetic wristband for six weeks.² However as with the previous study, there was found to be no statistically significant improvement in outcome measures relating to symptom severity or function. Magnet therapy was, nevertheless reported to be well-tolerated.²

These studies suggest a lot of uncertainty over the effectiveness of magnetic therapy, and more research is required to build a clearer picture of whether magnets are useful for carpal tunnel syndrome.

Safety considerations 

Both static and electromagnetic therapy appear safe for treating pain. Many studies have reported minimal or no negative side effects in people following magnetic therapy, including those with chronic diseases and pain.⁶

Some magnets may interfere with medical devices such as pacemakers and insulin pumps. It is also important to remember to follow manufacturer instructions on how to wear the device correctly, the recommended frequency and duration of use, and any safety precautions. 

There is a lot of uncertainty surrounding how efficient magnetic therapy is for CTS. Therefore it is important to consult with a healthcare professional before starting this approach to ensure you make informed decisions about your treatment options. However, since magnetic therapy has been reported to be well-tolerated with no side effects, and is relatively low-cost and easy to maintain as a treatment option, some patients feel that it is worth trying. 

However, it is important to remember that what works for one person may or may not work as well for you. It’s therefore important to try different treatment options, including magnetic therapy, with the guidance of a healthcare professional. This can help you to work out what works for you, and perhaps a combination of different treatments would work best for you. For example, magnetic therapy can be used in combination with wearing a wrist splint or pain medications. 

It is also important to be consistent, by wearing the magnetic device regularly and as instructed by the manufacturer or healthcare professional. This is the way that magnet therapy is most likely to be beneficial to you. 

Prevention 

There are some day-to-day modifications that you can make to decrease your chances of developing carpal tunnel syndrome, such as:³

• When doing tasks that require a lot of hand movement, such as typing on a keyboard, reduce your force and relax your grip
• Take lots of short breaks. During the breaks, stretch and bend your hands and wrists
• When using a keyboard, ensure a relaxed middle position, with your keyboard at elbow height or slightly lower
• Posture. A good posture is important for many parts of your body, including your neck, shoulders, hands, and arms
• Keep your hands warm 

Summary

Magnetic therapy has garnered interest in recent years due to its promising outcomes and minimal side effects for a range of neurological and musculoskeletal conditions. This treatment offers a non-surgical alternative for treating symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome and is well-tolerated. However, future research and long-term follow-up are needed to establish its effectiveness in treating carpal tunnel syndrome.