The evidence on the effectiveness of wrist splints comes from only one study, but the improvement in symptoms was significant.

The evidence on the position of wrist-splinting comes from one trial. People who wore the splint with the wrist in a neutral position (hand held straight rather than bent either upward or downward) had better improvement in overall symptoms and nighttime symptoms than those who wore the splint with the wrist extended (hand bent in an upward position). Daytime symptoms were the same in the two groups.

Low doses of steroids appear to be as effective as higher doses. Local (into the wrist) steroid injections are well tolerated. Even low-doses of steroids have some potential serious side effects, including tendon rupture and complications related to injection into the median nerve (one of the main nerves of the wrist).

Steroid pills appear to improve symptoms in the short term. Their benefits must be weighed against the risk of side effects, which include nausea, anxiety, mood swings and other mental changes, insomnia, headaches, ulcers, osteoporosis, and hormonal imbalance.

The study that investigated the longer treatment had a high drop-out rate (many patients prematurely left the study). The patients who dropped out were not properly accounted for in the analysis which makes the results less reliable. Thus, the evidence on the effectiveness of ultrasound is limited.

More studies are needed to fully evaluate the effects of yoga. Given its low cost and minimal side effects, yoga is a reasonable treatment option to try despite the limited evidence on its effectiveness.

Individuals who have severe symptoms as well as muscle weakness and/or atrophy (shrinkage of muscle tissue) may be candidates for surgery. The decision to proceed to surgery for people with milder symptoms is more difficult.

The evidence on the effectiveness of wearing a wrist splint full time comes from one small trial of only 24 patients.

Studies comparing diuretics with placebo (sham) treatment have not demonstrated any differences between the two groups.

Only a few small sudies have compared these drugs with placebo (sham) treatment. Anti-inflammatory drugs did not improve symptoms any more than a placebo did. In addition, chronic use of anti-inflammatory medications can cause significant side effects including stomach ulcers and bleeding.

There have been a few small trials comparing vitamin-B6 treatment with placebo (sham) treatment. These studies have not shown any greater improvement in vitamin-treated groups.

One trial demonstrated no difference between laser acupuncture treatment and placebo (sham) treatment.

All of the trials investigating the use of wrist splints following surgery have been small, but the results have consistently demonstrated that wrist splints should not be worn after surgery.

The two trials investigating these keybords demonstrated conflicting evidence, and there was wide variability in patient response to use of ergonomic keyboards.

These exercises stretch certain muscles and tendons of the hand, fingers and wrist. More studies are needed to fully evaluate the effects of these exercises.

The group treated with chiropractic care and the group treated with medical care had similar results in terms of mental distress, hand function, and quality of life.