In the one reported double, placebo-controlled study of magnet therapy for carpal tunnel syndrome, 30 people with the health challenge received treatment with either a real or a fake static magnet.7 Dramatic, long-lasting benefits were seen with the magnet treatment. However, identical, dramatic long-lasting benefits were seen with placebo treatment as well! In two more small randomized trials, researchers again found that there were no differences between the treatment and the placebo groups. Both groups experienced an improvement in carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms.13-14
Interestingly, the fact that the placebo group was found to have equally effective results does not undermine the efficacy of the treatment - in fact, it raises the question whether simply having a practitioner take the time to administer a particular treatment makes the treatment effective. Perhaps it is less about the modality/treatment chosen, and more about the care brought to the therapy by the practitioner. Traditional scientific study does not, by-and-large, support the idea that the patient/practitioner connection or relationship might in fact be a major part of the healing/treatment that occurs; but in fact, this connection might be just as, if not more, important than the actual treatment in some cases.
In the one reported double, placebo-controlled study of magnet therapy for carpal tunnel syndrome, 30 people with the health challenge received treatment with either a real or a fake static magnet.7 Dramatic, long-lasting benefits were seen with the magnet treatment. However, identical, dramatic long-lasting benefits were seen with placebo treatment as well! This study underscores the need for a placebo group in studies—had. In two more small randomized trials, researchers again found that there were no differences between the treatment and the placebo groups. Both groups experienced an improvement in carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms.13-14
Interestingly, the fact that the placebo group was found to have equally effective results does not undermine the efficacy of the treatment - in fact, it raises the question whether simply having a practitioner take the time to administer a particular treatment makes the treatment effective. Perhaps it is less about the modality/treatment chosen, and more about the care brought to the therapy by the practitioner. Traditional scientific study does not, by-and-large, support the idea that the patient/practitioner connection or relationship might in fact be a major part of the healing/treatment that occurs; but in fact, this connection might be just as, if not more, important than the actual treatment in some cases.
The administering of magnets on the wrists is thought to possibly help in the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome.
