Physical Therapy Treatment for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is a common hand and arm condition that is caused by pressure on the nerve at the base of the palm (median nerve). The median nerve originates from cervical (neck) spinal nerves and controls movement and sensation to the palmer side of the hand and fingers. The carpal tunnel is a narrow passage located on the palm side of the wrist that protects the main nerve in the hand and the nine tendons that bend the fingers. In general, CTS occurs when the tissues around the median nerve swell and press on the nerve.. It is estimated that 1 out 20 Americans suffer from this condition. CTS develops gradually and progresses over time. Numbness and a “pins and needles� sensation are the most common symptoms. It mainly affects the thumb, middle finger and half of the ring finger. Symptoms become worse upon waking or during certain activities that involve flexing and extending of the wrist. This, in turn, may result in decreased grip strength making it difficult to perform routine tasks with the affected hand.
How Physical Therapy Helps This treatment approach blends physiology with exercise and applies these principles to reduce pain. If your symptom evaluation confirms early-stage CTS, conservative care will be recommended as an initial step. Physical therapy helps reduce symptoms and improves function, allowing patients to perform their routine activities easily. During initial visit to the physical therapist, you would need to explain your symptoms and situations that make the symptoms worse. In a professional healthcare center, a physical therapy treatment program would include the following:
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Exercises - Exercise helps increase the strength of the muscles in your fingers and forearm. Gliding exercises can help to relieve CTS symptoms. Moving your fingers in a particular pattern of exercises may help your tendons and nerves glide more smoothly. Other simple exercises would include wrist bend (forward and backward), wrist lift and flex, hand squeeze, and wrist stretch with weight and finger bend. These can help relieve symptoms when combined with other treatments such as splinting or activity modification.
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Splints – One of the most commonly prescribed modalities for CTS, splints (braces) immobilize the wrist in a neutral (unbent) position and reduce discomfort. An unbent wrist maximizes the size of carpal tunnel, thereby reducing pressure on the median nerve and relieving symptoms.
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Ice or heat application – Applying heat and ice packs provides shorter relief for pain and numbness. Ice packs reduce muscle spasm and swelling, whereas heat application provides muscle relaxation.
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Traction – This treatment uses a hand traction unit or device that decompresses the wrist joint to provide pain relief.
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Ultrasound – By minimizing numbness and aches, deep, pulsed ultrasound can improve hand strength.
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Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) – Low voltage electric simulation can help in pain management.
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Injury prevention education - Physical therapists provide patients with instructions on how to limit their home and leisure activities to reduce the chances of injury and pain, and avoiding repetitive strain injury.
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718-769-2521