Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) as some other similar diseases belongs to the group of so-called overuse injuries. This is a manifestation of nerve and tissue damage from fast, forceful and seemingly harmless repetitive wrist and hand motions (prolong repetitive trauma), which result in swelling, tenderness and pain.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Treatment

Initial treatment includes includes immobilization, ice packs and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Wrist splints and braces are used for immobilization. Wrist splints stabilize the wrist in neutral position, protecting the nerve from being compressed and take the inflammation down. It usually takes from 6 to 8 weeks.

Surgery is performed in the most severe cases, in order to enlarge the Carpal Tunnel and repair ligaments

Physical therapy is the corner stone in managing carpal tunnel syndrome. The goal is to avoid the surgery, and in most cases we can do this. Physical therapy is combination of manual therapy with special modalities, which provide reduction of swelling and inflammation as well as relieve pain and other symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome.

Our experience extends more then 30 years working with string musicians and pianists. Manual therapy only is not enough to successfully cure the disease. Because of repetitive chronic microtrauma, physical therapists have to use various modalities to reduce swelling, pain and other symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome and speed up process of healing. Cold laser is most useful among different modalities.

1. Manual therapy to the wrist (8-10 minutes) along with massage of neck and shoulders (8-10 minutes) every other day or 3 times a week.
2. Cold Laser Therapy (e.g. ML 830® Laser) 5-6 minutes 10 times together with manual therapy.
3. Electrical stimulation of the wrist area 10 times for 6-8 minutes.
4. Short-wave thermotherapy to the neck and upper back 10 to 12 minutes 10 sessions.

More on Carpal Tunnel Syndrome...

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Description

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Physical Therapy TreatmentCarpal tunnel syndrome occurs mostly in middle-aged women, who do repetitive extensive hand work (e.g. typing) and mostly in dominant hand. It is also often seen in production and manufacturing workplaces (with repetitive activities such as cutting meat, dressing poultry and assembling automobiles). The condition is also very common among musicians, who play string instruments and piano. During last 10-15 years people can get this problem as a result of extensive computer work (computer manufacturers now use warning labels to alert consumers that keyboard use may increase the risk of CTS). This is second most common (after lower back pain) for both males and females, reason for seeking for medical attention.

The carpal tunnel is a narrow tunnel on the inner surface of the wrist where tendons for flexing muscles of the fingers travel. When a person does repetitive and long (for hours) work with his wrist or fingers, the tendons became inflamed, which causes their swelling and compression of the median nerve. The same symptoms may occur after wrist trauma (e.g. Colles fracture – fall on extended wrist) or when one of the wrist bones is displaced and the median nerve is compressed.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Symptoms

People usually complain about numbness, tingling or pain in their hands along the median nerve distribution. The symptoms mostly occur at night and aggravate with repetitive hand motion. Without treatment hand muscles deteriorate and lose their ability to grip. CTS sufferers may become permanently disabled if they ignore the symptoms.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Differential Diagnosis

There are several similar to CTS conditions. One of them is De Quervian’s disease. This problem usually seen in people who do repetitive forceful grasp together with ulnar deviation. E.g. wrist in playing tennis (squash) or repetitive use thumb in work-related situations.

Contact us for an appointment >>