Physical therapy for carpal tunnel

Why in-home PT is better

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Meet with the best carpal tunnel syndrome physical therapists

Luna’s team of physical therapists has experience and expertise in the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome. Our certified physical therapists manage CTS symptoms with carpal tunnel treatment exercises that include nerve and tendon gliding, wrist resistance, hand squeezes, ultrasound, and ice therapy.

Resting wrist splints are often prescribed to prevent further compression on the median nerve until the inflammation subsides. An effective physical therapy program will focus first on relieving symptoms and then on strengthening exercises for the hand and forearm musculature that will prepare patients to return to daily activities and work tasks. Luna physical therapists will also advise patients on any ergonomic adjustments that can be made to prevent further flare-ups.

There are no “home remedies” for carpal tunnel syndrome, but with Luna, patients can get carpal tunnel syndrome treatment at home, at the office, at the park, or at the location of their choosing. Our physical therapists come to you.

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What is carpal tunnel?

A common condition affecting over eight million people in the United States alone, carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) occurs when the passageway formed by the wrist’s carpal bones compresses the median nerve. CTS most commonly causes pain, numbness, tingling, burning, and “shock-like” sensations in the thumb, index, middle, and ring fingers. The neuropathic sensations produced by carpal tunnel syndrome may also radiate up the arm to the forearm and shoulder.

For most CTS sufferers, physical therapy provides the best and most effective treatment option. PT wrist strengthening exercises designed to reduce pressure on the median nerve can, in a majority of cases, restore normal sensation in the hand, wrist, and arm — with surgery being the preferred option only for acute cases of CTS.

Such severe cases typically result from extreme and/or long-term median nerve compression, and can cause atrophy (or wasting) of the muscles in the hand and wrist, negatively affecting grip strength, pinch strength, and dexterity (think: threading a needle). Less common causes include traumatic injuries to the wrist.

Source: Move Forward

Carpal tunnel symptoms

The symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome typically present with gradual onset, and are often more pronounced when sleeping, holding heavy objects, typing, or keeping the hands in extreme (bent) positions for long durations. If the condition progresses, sufferers may experience weakness, loss of grip or pinch strength, or more pronounced and longer-lasting neuropathic sensations. These are most commonly felt on the palmar (front) side of the first three fingers of the affected hand.

The most common symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome include:

  • Numbness (the feeling that one’s hand or fingers have “fallen asleep”)
  • Tingling (a.k.a. “pins and needles”)
  • Burning sensations
  • Loss of grip strength and/or pinch strength
Source: WebMD
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What causes carpal tunnel?

While the cause of carpal tunnel syndrome is typically unattributable, activities which compress the carpal tunnel, exerting pressure on the median nerve, are generally understood to represent the most common trigger. The causes can be divided into two categories: Work-related causes, and those brought on by associated conditions.

The most common causes of carpal tunnel syndrome include:

  • Repetitive movements of the hand — typically work-related (i.e. typing or manufacturing line work)
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Arthritis
  • Diabetes
  • Pregnancy
  • Injury to the wrist (i.e. wrist fracture)
Source: Mayo Clinic

Physical therapy for carpal tunnel syndrome

Physical therapy (a.k.a. ‘physiotherapy’) is the “front line” treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome. It’s the first tool in the toolbelt that patients and physicians alike reach for — chiefly because it’s extremely effective, but also because it’s a low-risk, non-invasive, natural treatment option for CTS relief. There is no cure for CTS per se, however with a well-designed, and well-executed physical therapy treatment plan, the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome can be managed, controlled, relieved, and in many cases eliminated altogether — without surgery.

If, in extreme cases, physical therapy alone cannot cure CTS, patients may opt for surgery, in which case postoperative physical therapy may serve a crucial role in bringing back normal mobility, flexibility, strength, and sensation to the wrist and hand.

Source: Physiopedia
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