Workers with carpal tunnel syndrome lose lots of time from their jobs. Plus, they're in a lot of pain. Treatments for the syndrome vary widely. A new study shows the effectiveness of one therapy: wearing a nighttime wrist splint for six weeks, which immobilizes the forearm and wrist in a neutral position, allowing the irritated nerve—the cause of the syndrome—to rest.

What the researchers wanted to know: Would nocturnal splinting help workers diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome if used on a regular basis?

What they did: One hundred twelve workers in a midwestern auto assembly plant, who had symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome—numbness, tingling, or burning sensations in the median nerve of the hand for more than a week—were divided, randomly, into two groups. Some received a wrist splint, designed to be worn every night for six weeks while they slept. The others received counseling on how to avoid stressing their wrists.

What they found: The people with splints had a significant reduction in hand, wrist, or finger discomfort over three months, even after the treatment finished. The other group did not.

What this study means to you: If you have carpal tunnel syndrome, night wrist splints—specially designed to hold wrists in a neutral position—are a good first treatment and are much less troublesome than more aggressive measures like surgery.

Caveats: A year after treatment, the degree of relief was strongly related to the severity of the original nerve injury, indicating that severe cases may need more help than a splint.

Find out more: The Mayo Clinic has a good overview of carpal tunnel—symptoms, causes, and treatments.

Read the article: Werner, R. et al. "Randomized Controlled Trial of Nocturnal Splinting For Active Workers With Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome." Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. January 2005, Vol. 86, No. 1, pp. 1–7.

Abstract online: http://www2.archives-pmr.org