Is Carpal Solution a Scam?
Although Carpal Solution’s inventor claims the remedy is 97 percent effective, there is only one extremely limited clinical study supporting its use, as the Carpal Solution website reports. Traditional therapies, such as lifestyle changes, physical therapy and surgery, are the most effective for symptom relief, according to Mayo Clinic.
The Carpal Solution is a flexible splint with an elastic center that patients wear on the hand for six weeks to one year, as the Carpal Solution website explains. According to the marketing claims of its manufacturer, it increases flexibility and improves circulation to tissues, promoting natural healing without medication or surgery. However, the only study cited on the website involved only 11 pre-screened patients, of whom 82 percent, or 9 people, achieved significant clinical relief. Patients with minor carpal tunnel syndrome often achieve similar results with inexpensive over-the-counter wrist braces and stretching exercises performed frequently during the day, explains Mayo Clinic.
Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve, which runs from the forearm into the palm of the hand and enervates the thumb, index, middle and ring fingers, becomes compressed, as the National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke explains. The underlying cause is sometimes arthritis or another medical condition, but it is often associated with work stress, wrist injuries and the repeated use of vibrating hand tools. Some relatively effective home remedies include resting the wrist and applying cold packs to decrease swelling. Some patients report that supervised exercise and yoga are also effective at providing relief.
