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.
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CTS is a condition that causes pain, numbness and pins & needles of the hand. The carpal tunnel is a narrow passageway at the base of the hand which contains various bones, ligaments, nerves and tendons. The condition occurs when one of the major nerves that supplies the hand, the Median nerve, is compressed as it travels through this carpal tunnel
The compression of the median nerve occurs due to the narrowing of the carpal tunnel as a result of swelling. This swelling can be as a result of repeated hand and wrist movements, genetic factors, hand and wrist positioning, pregnancy and other health conditions such as diabetes and certain arthritis
Symptoms include pain, numbness and tingling, particularly at the thumb, index middle and ring finger. The little finger generally is not affected. You may also experience weakened grip strength
Women between the ages of 40-60, pregnant individuals, those with arthritis’ and individuals who use their hands repeatedly are at most risk of developing CTS
CTS can generally be treated without the need of surgical intervention. Manual therapy and stretching routine has been proven effective in reducing the symptoms of CTS. If left untreated, permanent nerve damage can result
Median Nerve Stretch
Rib 1 Mobilisation
Grip Strength
Forearm Extensor Stretch
Resisted Finger Extension [Rubber band]
Please see a health professional before commencing these exercises
