Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common condition of the wrist and hand that can affect the entire arm. It is caused by pressure on the nerve at the base of the palm. Carpal tunnel is a common condition affecting 1 out of 20 Americans.
Surgery is often performed for the condition; however, physical therapy treatment can often relieve pain and numbness and restore normal use of the hand, wrist, and arm without the need for surgery.
In a recent study from Spain it was shown that choosing physical therapy over surgery for carpal tunnel produces greater improvements earlier on and that in terms of pain and function, physical therapy is “equal to surgery at 6 and 12 months after baseline” (Journal of Pain).
In the same study it showed that those who chose physical therapy reported higher decreases on the 11-point pain scale at 1 month and at 3 months.
Depending on the causes of an individual’s carpal tunnel syndrome some of the ways physical therapy can be used to help heal the condition include:
- Education on which wrists positions to avoid, types of stretch breaks you can do during your work day, and proper ways to use tools and utensils
- Stretching exercises to improve the flexibility of the wrist, hand, and fingers
- Exercises to increase the strength of the muscles in your hands, fingers, and forearm
- Use of cold and heat treatments to relieve pain
- Use of a night splint to reduce discomfort
When you visit Valeo Physical Therapy and see Paul, Paul can help you with other recommendations for relieving pain until your symptoms are resolved. We strive to reduce your symptoms without the need of surgery, to help you continue to be active and functional as possible so that you can continue your daily routines.
If your condition is severe enough to need surgery, physical therapy can help afterwards to help restore strength to your wrists. Paul can help you learn to modify habits that may have caused the carpal tunnel syndrome in the first place and answer any other questions you may have.
If you’re suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome, contact us today to see if we can help prevent you from having to have surgery. Call us at 877-488-1990 or email us via mail@valeopt.com.
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