Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Physical Therapy
The cause of carpal tunnel syndrome is a compressed nerve in the patient’s carpal tunnel. The abnormal pressure results in pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness in the hand. This is the median nerve, and it runs from the forearm into the palm of the hand and affects sensation in the palm and fingers (except the little finger).
This condition greatly affects grip and wrist movement, affecting your ability to work. It may also be caused by other conditions like hypothyroidism, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, obesity, and pregnancy.
Physical therapy is an effective method in treating Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
Who is at risk of carpal tunnel syndrome?
Carpal tunnel syndrome usually occurs in adults. Women are three times more at risk than men because the carpal tunnel may be smaller in women. The condition persists more in workers performing assembly line work than doing data-entry jobs, like:
- Manufacturing
- Sewing
- Finishing
- Cleaning
- Meat, poultry, or fish packing
- Long-hour typists
- Keyboard and violin players
- Weight lifters
- Netball or basketball players
Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome
Symptoms may first appear on the more dominant hand, most commonly at night due to the relaxed position of the hand when sleeping. They include:
- Burning, tingling, or itching numbness when you wake up
- Feeling of swelling though hand doesn’t look swollen
- Tingling of hand during the day when the condition has worsened
- Weakness of grip strength
- No feeling of hot or cold by touch
- In worse/untreated cases, the muscles at the base of the thumb may waste away
How we can help you
At Fusion Physical Therapy, we have a highly skilled team of physical therapists with vast experience in treating carpal tunnel syndrome. Our experts will examine you to effectively ascertain the cause of your condition, then create a customized treatment plan that will aid in the relief of your pain.
Here at Fusion Physical Therapy, we can help you regain your grip strength and the normal range of motions in your wrist. Contact us to book your appointment with one of our certified, top physical therapy experts, and be on your way to a pain-free tomorrow, today!