Unlock the Power of Physiotherapy: Say Goodbye to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome!
Let me just hit the groundrunning out by saying that... no one particularly takes pleasure in the sensation of your fingers going numb and tingly, especially when you're trying to get your work done.
It's even worse discomfort when you can't find a satisfactory solution for it. That's why I'm here to acquaint you to the world of physio therapy for treating carpal tunnel syndrome. Yes, I did say physio therapy, not surgery!
Physiotherapeutic options have been existing for many many couples of years alright, and they are now being seen as a viable-noninvasive option to invasive surgical non-risk free procedures for treating this common condition.
Physical therapy technical-methods such as massage, stretching, and strengthening can help reduce pain and inflammation linked with carpal tunnel syndrome.
We'll be getting our hands ad feet wet with the various physiotherapeutic options available for treating carpal tunnel syndrome and how they can bring relief.
lets go!!!
What Is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
video by zero to final
watch the above ☝️☝️ video, when done read the below 👇👇
Oh, carpal tunnel – no one should have to deal with you! But, due to some unfortunate event, far too many of us do. So what precisely is carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS)? In a nutshell, the reason for it is increased unwanted pressure on your median nerve at the wrist that can lead to numbness and tingling in your fingers.
Think of it like highway traffic – when the lanes are too crowded or conjested and people don't follow the rules (like not using their blinker or going over the speed limit), it leads to traffic jams. CTS is similar. Your median nerve can become compressed if tendons, ligaments, muscles and other soft tissues get overcrowded in the tunnel through which it passes. This can cause inflammation, swelling and discomfort.
But hey!! – you don't have to suffer through CTS alone! Physiotherapeutic options for treating this condition offer a noninvasively-conservative way for relief. The goal of such treatment is to reduce pressure on your median nerve and help relieve discomfort. It also helps strengthen weakened muscles and improves flexibility in areas affected by CTS so you can get back to doing what you love more quickly and easily!
Causes and Risk Factors of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
So why, precisely, do we find ourselves dealing with carpal tunnel syndrome? All our years of scrolling and typing have finally caught up to us. In a shell or like they say, nutshell, your carpal tunnel is a channel-way at the bottom of your wrist where important nerves and tendons are located. If these become swollen due to an inflammatory process or a compressive force, it can lead to pain, numbness or hypoesthesia, and tingling(pins and needle sensation) in your fingers and hand.
It's not just typing that can cause this as popular belief – there are some other risk factors in the show that increase the chances of developing carpal tunnel syndrome. Prolonged exposure to vibration (working with power tools all day), frequent repetitive motions (such as typing), certain medical conditions (think rheumatoid arthritis or diabetes), being female (it's more commonly diagnosed in women than men) or even being pregnant (all those hormones tend to swell up the ligaments).
If any of these sound familiar to you, fret not. Physiotherapy is an exceptional way to deal with the unpleasurable presentations of carpal tunnel syndrome and help you get back to a pleasurable work-life in no time.
How Physiotherapy Can Help in the Treatment of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
If you've ever at any point in time being paid an unwanted visit by carpal tunnel syndrome, then you know how uncomfortable it can be. You may find yourself lacking in ability to do daily tasks for living such as typing, playing the piano, or even gardening. That's why physical therapy can come in so dexterously and handfully to help improve/boost your range of motion and reduce pain associated with carpal tunnel syndrome.
As a Physiotherapist, I am largely vast on the different types of interventions and modalities of treatments used to treat carpal tunnel syndrome. Some of the widely common ones include:
Soft Tissue Manipulation: This is a type of hands-on technique that utilizes pressure to release tightness and reduce inflammation in the area.
Joint Mobilization: This is similar to soft tissue manipulation but targets the joints instead of soft tissue muscles, tendons and ligaments. It helps to improve range of motion by repositioning bones into a more functional position.
Strengthening Exercises: These are designed to help strengthen and condition weakened muscles, improve joint mobility and restore normal postural alignment in the affected area.
Neural Glides: This is a technique which uses movements that ‘glide’ nerves through specific paths in order to reduce symptoms associated with carpal tunnel syndrome such as tingling, numbness or burning sensations in the hands or wrists.
These physiotherapeutic techniques often used together to provide an effective treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome if done consistently over time with correct guidance from a trained physiotherapist like myself!
Types of Physical Therapy Approaches for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Physical therapy is one of the favorable options for sending the unwanted visitor called carpal tunnel syndrome packing, and I'm here to tell you all about it.
There are series of physiotherapeutic approaches and techniques you can employ to help your carpal tunnel syndrome and demote pain. Here are my top two techniques:
Manual Therapy
This type of therapy consists of soft massage techniques, usually performed by hands or tools such as specialized balls or rollers. This helps decrease built-up tension in the muscles, tendons, and ligaments surrounding the median nerve in order to reduce symptoms like numbness/hypoesthesia and tingling(pin an needle sensation) in the hands.
Functional Rehabilitation
This approach focuses on strengthening exercises that target the affected muscles, focusing on activities that improve your ability to perform daily activities. Along with stretching and strengthening exercises, Functional Rehabilitation also includes gait training, balance exercises and posture re-education activities. On top of this, Functional Rehabilitation also uses assistive devices such as braces or splints to support the affected joint or limb.
Exercises and Stretches for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome-Related Pain Relief
Some simple exercises and stretches, it's possible to reduce not only the wrist pain associated with the condition, but also associated tension in the shoulder muscles.
For starters, let's talk about the importance of range of motion exercises. These include:
Wrist flexion: Alternate between pointing your wrist down and then up with gentle pressure applied at each extreme.
Wrist extension: Move your hand back, then forward by pressing your fingers against a flat surface until you feel a moderate stretch in your forearm.
Hand squeezing: Flex both hands around a soft ball or squishy tube and hold for 10-15 seconds before releasing; repeat this 10-20 times.
Next up are some stretches that target that stubborn shoulder tension:
Cross shoulder stretch: Standing with both arms crossed in front, grab each elbow with the opposite hand and apply gentle pull until you start feeling a soft stretch in each shoulder. Hold for 10-15 seconds before releasing.
Neck rotation: Keeping head straight, turn to one side by looking over the shoulder; hold for 5-10 seconds before switching sides. Repeat 3-4 times.
Wall angel: Against any wall or surface, extend arms up and out until they form an angels wings; hold for 15-20 seconds and repeat 3-4 times.
By building strength through these exercises and stretches and staying mindful of posture when typing or working at a computer all day long, you can reduce your risk for CTS flare ups and live life to the fullest again!
Results to Expect From Physiotherapeutic Treatment of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
When it boils down to treating carpal tunnel syndrome, physiotherapy in my honest opinion, is definitely the way to go. Physical therapy doesn't just treat the symptoms you see ; it helps you make lasting changes to reduce the risk of recurrence. So if you're really keen on finding a longterm 80-100% satisfactory solution, physiotherapy is a great option.
I'm sure you're wondering what kind of results you can expect from physio treatment, so let me break it down for you:
- Improved grip strength and ROM (range of motion)
- Reduced swelling and pain
- Increased circulation in your hands
- Improved hand dexterity and coordination
- Increased muscle strength in your arms and hands
- Improved range of motion for more stability with daily tasks
- More confidence in your abilities
- Long-term maintenance program so recurrences are unlikely
The beautiful thing about physiotherapeutic treatment is that it teaches you how to carry out everyday activities without straining or stressing your wrists – this is key to reducing the risk of recurrence and maintaining a healthy lifestyle much longer!
In the end, carpal tunnel syndrome is not a condition you want to procastinate on getting treatment for. Physiotherapy in my opinion, sentiments aside is the best option all things being equal to reduce pain, discomfort, and even prevent potentially more serious complications from developing. Give it a try, and you might just find the ever sought out relief you need for carpal tunnel syndrome quicker than you think! Now, my wrist is buzzing, so it’s time for me to take a break and jump on some physical therapy sessions.