Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Static Magnetic Field Therapy

NCT ID: NCT00521495

Last Updated: 2009-11-25

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

UNKNOWN

Clinical Phase

PHASE2

Total Enrollment

60 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2006-09-30

Study Completion Date

2009-08-31

Brief Summary

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The purpose of this Phase II study is to assess the feasibility of conducting a large scale trial which will evaluate the effectiveness of static magnetic field therapy as a treatment for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. This preliminary study will determine which of three strength magnets to use in the future.

Participants will be recruited from three primary sources. 1) Patients with a possible diagnosis of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome who have been referred to the Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation Clinics of OHSU for Nerve conduction studies. If after conducting these studies a potential participant shows evidence of mild to moderate Carpal Tunnel Syndrome s/he will be informed about the study and invited to participate in additional screening. B) Patients seen at the National College of Natural Medicine (NCNM) Clinics who have a clinical diagnosis of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome will be informed about the study and invited to enter the screening process for further eligibility. C) Participants will also be recruited from the general public including staff and students at OHSU and NCNM).

Eligibility will be determined through a stepwise process including telephone screening for general eligibility, Nerve Conduction screening for electrodiagnostic eligibility, and Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire screening for symptom severity eligibility. Those potential participants who meet all eligibility requirements will be randomized to one of three magnetic field dosages. They will be provided with a ¾" diameter x 1/8" thick magnet which they will be required to apply for six weeks during the hours of sleep. Over the course of the study participants will have four visits to the General Clinical Research Center of OHSU and three visits to the Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation Clinics of OHSU for Nerve Conduction studies to be performed by either Dr. Nels Carlson or Dr. Hans Carlson.

Questionnaires to be completed during the course of the study include a general health information and demographics questionnaire, the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire, which will be completed on six occasions, a general symptoms checklist and a Post Treatment Participant satisfaction questionnaire.

Recruitment, retention, compliance and safety will be analyzed using descriptive statistics. Effectiveness of the three different strength magnets will be assessed by comparing participants' baseline scores on the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire with their scores after six weeks of magnet use.

Detailed Description

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See Brief Summary

Conditions

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Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Keywords

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static magnetic field permanent magnet carpal tunnel syndrome median nerve

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

FACTORIAL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

QUADRUPLE

Participants Caregivers Investigators Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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A

Surface magnetic field strength at target 450 Gauss permanent magnet

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

neodymium permanent magnet

Intervention Type DEVICE

3/4" diameter by 1/8" thick permanent magnet

neodymium magnet

Intervention Type DEVICE

A. 450 Gauss static magnetic field at target B. 150 Gauss static magnetic field at target C. 0 Gauss static magnetic field at target

B

Surface field strength at target 150 Gauss permanent magnet

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

neodymium magnet

Intervention Type DEVICE

A. 450 Gauss static magnetic field at target B. 150 Gauss static magnetic field at target C. 0 Gauss static magnetic field at target

C

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

neodymium magnet

Intervention Type DEVICE

A. 450 Gauss static magnetic field at target B. 150 Gauss static magnetic field at target C. 0 Gauss static magnetic field at target

magnet

Intervention Type DEVICE

0 Gauss magnets are worn every night during hours of sleep for 6 weeks.

Interventions

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neodymium permanent magnet

3/4" diameter by 1/8" thick permanent magnet

Intervention Type DEVICE

neodymium magnet

A. 450 Gauss static magnetic field at target B. 150 Gauss static magnetic field at target C. 0 Gauss static magnetic field at target

Intervention Type DEVICE

magnet

0 Gauss magnets are worn every night during hours of sleep for 6 weeks.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Median nerve onset sensory latency \> 3.5 ms at 13 cm
* Median-ulnar across palm latency difference ≥ 0.4 ms
* Median-radial to thumb latency difference ≥ 0.7 ms

Exclusion Criteria

Use of narcotic analgesia Corticosteroid injection into the carpal tunnel within previous 3 months Prior carpal tunnel surgery on affected side History of wrist or hand fracture on the symptomatic limb Skin rash or irritation on the wrist Participant (or bed partner) wearing a pacemaker or other electronic device Current pregnancy, less than 3 months postpartum, nursing, or planning a pregnancy Plans to move from area during the time frame of the study Inability to tolerate the baseline screening nerve conduction study Unable or unwilling to comply with the protocol Collecting workers' compensation or social-security disability benefits Involved in litigation regarding pain or disability Development of a rash or skin irritation to the tape applied to the wrist during a run-in baseline test period

Concomitant medical conditions including:

Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus History of chronic renal failure or renal dialysis or forearm fistulae History of generalized peripheral neuropathy History of other neurologic disorders which may confuse the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome, including but not limited to stroke, cervical radiculopathy, myelopathy, subdural hematoma, brain tumor Inflammatory articular disease or tendonitis of the involved hand or wrist Other disorders known to predispose to carpal tunnel syndrome including acromegaly, multiple myeloma, amyloidosis Cancer

* Absent sensory nerve action potential (SNAP)
* Median nerve distal motor latency \> 6.0 ms
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

65 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)

NIH

Sponsor Role collaborator

Oregon Health and Science University

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

National University of Natural Medicine

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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National College of Natural Medicine

Principal Investigators

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Agatha P Colbert, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

National University of Natural Medicine

Locations

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National College of Natural Medicine

Portland, Oregon, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

References

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Colbert AP, Markov MS, Carlson N, Gregory WL, Carlson H, Elmer PJ. Static magnetic field therapy for carpal tunnel syndrome: a feasibility study. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2010 Jul;91(7):1098-104. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2010.02.013.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 20599049 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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R21AT003293

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: secondary_id

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R21AT003293

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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