CONTEXT: Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common complication of repetitive activities and causes significant morbidity. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of a yoga-based regimen for relieving symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. DESIGN: Randomized, single-blind, controlled trial. SETTING: A geriatric center and an industrial site in 1994 to 1995. PATIENTS: Forty-two employed or retired individuals with carpal tunnel syndrome (median age 52 years; range 24 to 77 years). INTERVENTION: Subjects assigned to the yoga group received a yoga-based intervention consisting of 11 yoga postures designed for strengthening, stretching, and balancing each joint in the upper body along with relaxation given twice weekly for 8 weeks. Patients in the control group were offered a wrist splint to supplement their current treatment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Changes from baseline to 8 weeks in grip strength, pain intensity, sleep disturbance, Phalen sign, and Tinel sign, and in median nerve motor and sensory conduction time. RESULTS: Subjects in the yoga groups had significant improvement in grip strength (increased from 162 to 187 mmHg; p = 0.009) and pain reduction (decreased from 5.0 to 2.9 mm; p = 0.02), but changes in grip strength and pain were not significant for control subjects. The yoga group had significantly more improvement in Phalen sign (12 improved versus 2 in control group; p = 0.008), but no significant differences were found in sleep disturbance, Tinel sign, and median nerve motor and sensory conduction time. CONCLUSION: In this preliminary study, a yoga-based regimen was more effective than wrist splinting or no treatment in relieving some symptoms and signs of carpal tunnel syndrome.

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