PT for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a painful condition that can hinder your ability to complete your daily routines. The “carpal tunnel” is a channel on the palm side of your wrist that protects the nerves and tendons that are responsible for your fingers to bend. When pressure is applied to this nerve you will start to experience pain or a numbing sensation in your wrist. This pain, and other pains associated with carpal tunnel syndrome, can be relieved by your physical therapist!

Carpal tunnel syndrome can affect people in many lines of work. Whether you are working in an assembly line or in an office, carpal tunnel is a reality that you might face. During the first stages of carpal tunnel syndrome you will start by feeling a tingling or burning sensation in the palm of your hand. As it progresses, things will become harder to do and your daily activities will be affected. Things as easy as holding a hairbrush will become a pain. If you do begin to feel this pain, you should contact a physical therapist or healthcare professional to plan out your treatment options.

Your physical therapist will start out by performing several tests on your wrists in order to conclude that you do have carpal tunnel syndrome. Once it is determined that you do have carpal tunnel syndrome, your physical therapist will come up with the perfect treatment plan for you. A physical therapist can provide you will education on how to take care of your carpal tunnel during your everyday life. They will also provide you with several exercises to help your wrist and hand. The exercises will include various stretching and strengthening exercises. The stretching exercises will improve your flexibility while the strengthening exercises will increase the strength of your wrist muscles. A physical therapist can perform nerve glides to increase the flexibility of the nerves.  You will also receive hot and cold treatments as well as ultrasound as a way to relieve the pain.

Besides providing physical therapy, your physical therapist can also provide you with information on how to adjust your workplace to better suit your wrists. By adjusting your office to fit your height and posture you can decrease your risk of carpal tunnel syndrome. Next time you are beginning to feel pain in your wrist and think it may be from carpal tunnel syndrome, contact your physical therapist right away. Your physical therapist can be your best asset in relieving the pain associated with carpal tunnel syndrome!