What Is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a pain in the wrist and hand that aggravates both grappling and holding positions involving the affected hand.
- Localized pain at the wrist with numbness and/or tingling
- Aggravated by movements involving the wrist in flexion
- Due to trauma or overuse on the affected side causing possible weakness and clumsiness when gripping objects
- Affected ADL’s and/or decrease concentration due to pain
What will be done during these visits –
- Physical examination upon consult including an assessment of finger and thumb range of motion
- Pain scales/questionnaires to be done on the 1st visit and reviewed after the end of the 4 treatments
- Advice on daily living activities/diet/general exercise/Ice protocol (if inflammation present)
- Trigger point therapy and/or Handheld Massage Device to hypertonic muscles
- PIR stretching to hand and forearm musculature (depending on pain tolerance)
- Activator and/or spinal manipulation techniques to other areas that may be problematic (depending on many varying factors)
Reasoning behind therapies/assessments –
- Physical examinations/assessments – These are all done as a precaution so that misdiagnosis does not occur. This also allows for better treatment outcomes which can be lifesaving.
- Pain scales/questionnaires – these screening tools are used to support the diagnosis of neuropathic/mechanical pain and are crucial for both effective management and to reduce the risks of chronicity.
- Advice on daily living activities/diet – This enables advice on how to change to make healthy actions into habits and may offer a valuable alternative with potential for long-term impact.
- Joint manipulation/activator/drop piece techniques – adjustive techniques have been shown to decrease pain and increase range of motion.
- Trigger point therapy/handheld massager – have shown to decrease pain/tenderness, enhance both range of motion and quality of life and influence flexibility.
- PNF/PIR/prescribed stretching – Stretching has been shown to reduce pain and improving functionality and overall wellbeing in patients in both long- and short-term outcomes.
- Prescribed exercises – produce more beneficial outcomes in terms of increased strength, improved function and reduced pain scores.
Our Locations
Pains and weakness on the outside of your elbow? You may be suffering from Tennis elbow. Tennis elbow is found commonly in individuals who use repeated arm and wrist movements such as baristas, painters, bar tenders, office workers and racquet sports players.
Tennis elbow is an overuse injury caused by repetitive strain of the muscles controlling backward wrist and finger movements. This repeated strain causes degeneration of the tendon and subsequent pain.
Tennis elbow has long been known as ‘Lateral Epicondylitis’. However this indicates inflammation of the tendon. Studies now indicate that it is not an inflammatory condition but a degenerative one.
Symptoms Include!
Pain localised to the outside of the Elbow (especially on the bone).
Tennis elbow affects approximately 1-3 % of people every year. Although it can affect anyone, people over 40 are most at risk. Funnily enough tennis players only make up only 5-10% of the patient population despite the name
If left untreated, it can take between 6 months and 2 years to get better. In some cases it may not get better without the need of physical therapy or surgery
Here are some exercises that may help speed up your recovery of tennis elbow
Eccentric Wrist Extension
Eccentric Supination
Soft tissue Muscle Mobilisation
Forearm Extensor Stretch
Remember to consult a health care professional before commencing these exercises