The Effect of Low-Level Laser Therapy in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Randomized, Single-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Trial
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a chronic compression of the median nerve, which can lead to symptoms such as nocturnal pain and paresthesia in the area innervated by the median nerve. The affected patients also describe discomfort and hypoesthesia in the nerve supply area. Due to the COVID (Coronavirus disease) pandemic, CTS operations have been postponed and delayed. A promising and safe alternative for improving CTS-related symptoms appears to be non-invasive, non-thermal low-level-laser therapy. As a possible conservative, alternative method, low-level-laser therapy has the potential to enable patients with CTS to improve their disease-related symptoms or at least to alleviate the symptoms until the indicated CTS operation (carpal tunnel release). The aim of this randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial is to investigate the influence of 3 weeks of low-level-laser therapy on the symptoms typical of CTS in patients with surgery-indicated carpal tunnel syndrome and its influence on quality of life.
• Existing written consent of the participating person after informed consent.
• The patient is capable of giving consent.
• Isolated surgery-induced CTS
• CTS patients with pain (NRS between 2 and 6) and/or paresthesia and/or nocturnal pain that has been present for at least 3 months (pain reported using the Numerical Rating Scale for Pain (NRS) between 0 and 10).
• Compliance with 3 weeks of cold light therapy.