Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a common condition in the hand/wrist that occurs when the median nerve, one of the major nerves of the upper body, gets compressed within the carpal tunnel in the wrist. The median nerve originates in the neck and travels down the upper arm to the forearm and eventually to the hand. It supplies sensation and muscle innervation along the way. When the median nerve gets to the wrist it must travel through a very small compartment called the carpal tunnel. The carpal tunnel is about 1 inch wide and is bound by connective tissue on one side and our carpal bones on the other side. So the tunnel has a very limited ability to stretch. The carpal tunnel also contains many tendons that help move our fingers. With repeated stress to the area the tunnel can narrow further as the connective tissue called the transverse carpal ligament tightens causing compression of the median nerve (please see picture). Overuse injuries and repetitive motions involving wrist flexion such as typing or manual labor can also cause the area around the carpal tunnel to swell. This swelling can can cause compression of the carpal tunnel and squeeze the median nerve causing symptoms. When the nerve becomes pinched it can cause numbness, tingling, weakness, and pain within the hand and wrist. In physical therapy we work on restoring the dynamics of the median nerve so it can move better within the tunnel, we work on promoting blood flow to the median nerve in the wrist so it heals, and we work on the mobility of the bones and tendons in the wrist so they are less likely to compress the nerve in the tunnel. Physical therapy can be beneficial for those who have carpal tunnel syndrome. Please see photos below for examples of how we treat carpal tunnel syndrome in the clinic. If you would like to schedule an appointment please reach out to us.