What's the best carpal tunnel brace you can get? Ask any group of carpal tunnel doctors and chances are each one will have a different opinion. 

There are hundreds of companies worldwide selling or manufacturing wrist braces. A large proportion of them are labeled “for carpal tunnel syndrome”. And the price range is from $10 to $700.

So how can you tell what's the best carpal tunnel brace without going broke? This article describes what to look for.

• Think you have carpal tunnel? Complimentary self-test
• Already know you have carpal tunnel? This Quiz tells you its severity

• Immobilization and support: The brace should provide firm support to keep your wrist stable and neutral (straight). This position reduces pressure on the median nerve and alleviates carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms, especially at night.

• Adjustability and comfort: The best carpal tunnel braces are made of breathable materials to minimize irritation and sweating. They have adjustable straps or Velcro closures for a custom fit. They are also machine washable.
  

• Temporary relief: Your carpal tunnel brace can help alleviate pain, numbness, tingling, shooting electric shocks, and burning. However, the brace alone may not cure carpal tunnel syndrome, especially if you have advanced symptoms. But it can be used as part of a wider treatment plan for effective symptom relief.

It's important to understand that the vast majority of braces sold around the world actually cause more harm if you already have carpal tunnel syndrome.

Why? There are no FDA standards which regulate the design of wrist braces. In other words, any manufacturer can create a brace and say it’s “for carpal tunnel syndrome" (or any other disorder).

So how do you know a good carpal tunnel brace from a bad one?

1. If you wake up in the morning with worse symptoms, then you were probably wearing the wrong brace.
2. If your current brace has a palmar spine (a stiff spine on the palm surface - see picture) then it's the wrong brace to use.

On the flip-side, there currently are only 9 companies (see below) which manufacture "certified carpal tunnel braces". Doctors designed them to maximize the benefit of wearing a wrist brace without causing additional harm to your wrist joint.

Above all, the best carpal tunnel brace will NOT  have a permanent spine or “stay” on the palm side of the hand (or palmar side). This is called a palmar spine  - see image above. If the brace has a palmar spine, then it's NOT a certified carpal tunnel brace.

Keeping a stiff spine away from this area is crucial if you have carpal tunnel syndrome. That's because the spine presses on the wrist, causing pressure inside the joint. 

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a disease caused by pressure inside the wrist joint. So if you’re wearing a brace that contains a spine over the palm area, then every time you bend your wrist the spine will push into the wrist joint. Such pushing increases the pressure underneath, deep inside the wrist joint. And that’s very bad if you have carpal tunnel syndrome.

Instead, the best carpal tunnel brace will have its spine located on the top or on the side(s) of the hand. A hand brace with this design prevents the spine from pushing into your carpal tunnel space. 

Above all, the best carpal tunnel brace will NOT have a permanent palmar spine. Other major things to look for in a carpal tunnel brace are the following:

• A brace that fully encloses the hand, wrist and forearm. This reduces excess bending pressures on the wrist joint.
  
  
• The best carpal tunnel brace is breathable AND washable. Only a few fabrics have these two crucial features. 
  
  
• The entire brace tightens with Velcro straps; and the more straps the better. Buckles will cause fumbling with your opposite hand (which also likely has problems). 
  
  
• Lastly, it’s best if the straps are also movable so you can adjust them for comfort.

Consequently, be wary of braces and their claims. Braces are not a product where “expensive” means “good”. 

1. Carpal Pain Solutions CarpalRx Night Brace
2. Sammons Preston Rolyan Dorsal Resting Hand Orthosis
3. RCAI Dorsal Carpal Tunnel Splint
4. Allegro Medical Dorsal Resting Splint
5. Comfy Splints Dorsal Hand Orthosis
6. AliMed Dorsal Resting Splint
7. Advanced Dorsal Resting Splint
8. LEEDer Dorsal Orthosis
9. Bort Soft CTS Splint

(In spite of their claims, they're NOT made for carpal tunnel syndrome.)

You should be cautious when considering buying a carpal tunnel brace. Certainly, be careful buying online or in one of the many retail outlets like CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid or Walmart. 

In fact, it's best to stay clear of braces sold on most “brace sites”. They are usually expensive and you get nothing in return. Actually, you’ll notice how similar they all are. Moreover, all of them have a palmar spine!

If you have carpal tunnel syndrome, stay away from the braces below. They're not certified carpal tunnel braces. 

• Featol Wrist Brace Carpal Tunnel
• Zofore Sport
• DonJoy CXT & SXT Functional Wrist Braces
• ComfyBrace
• Ace Wrist Stabilizer
• Bauerfeind ManuTrain Wrist Brace
• Bauerfeind ManuLoc Wrist Brace
• FLA ProLite Wrist Splint with Abducted Thumb
• ProCare IMAK Pil-O-Wrist Splint
• Copper Fit Wrist Brace
• Mueller Sports Medicine Wrist Brace
• Bio Skin DP3 Cock-Up Wrist Brace
• DonJoy Neoprene Wrist Wrap
• Futuro Wrist
• Ace Night Wrist Sleep
• Bio Skin DP2 Cock-Up Wrist Brace
• DonJoy Contoured Wrist/Forearm Splint
• Hely and Weber Tiny Titan Thumb Wrist Brace
• ProCare Loop-Lock Cock-Up Splint
• Hely and Weber Titan Thumb Wrist Brace
• Medtherapies Lace-Up Wrist Brace
• FLA Uni-Fit Wrist Splint
• ProCare Foam Wrist Splint
• Don Joy Universal Wrist/Forearm Splint
• ProCare Quick-Fit W.T.O. Wrist/Thumb
• ProCare Cock-Up Wrist Splint
• AirCast A2 Wrist Stabilizing Brace
• Ossur Exoform Wrist Brace
• Bledsoe Wrist Lacer Wrist Brace
• Bledsoe Universal Wrist Lacer
• Zouyue Splint Wrist Brace
  

Of the hundreds of braces you can buy, only very few are certified carpal tunnel braces. Unlike generic braces with a stiff spine over your palm, the best carpal tunnel brace you can get will avoid exerting added pressure on your wrist joint. It will also have other important features that make it superior to generic wrist braces. Remember, just because the package says it's a “carpal tunnel brace”, be suspicious. It usually doesn’t mean it’s made specifically for carpal tunnel syndrome. In fact, it can actually harm you.