How Physical Therapy Can Help Relieve Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Do you have numbness or tingling in your fingers? Maybe it’s worse at night? You may be suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome. If left untreated, carpal tunnel syndrome can lead to permanent nerve damage and the loss of sensation in your hand.

Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common condition that affects the hand and wrist. It’s caused by compression of the median nerve that runs from the forearm to the hand through a narrow passage in the wrist called the carpal tunnel.

The most common symptom of carpal tunnel syndrome is numbness or tingling in the thumb, index, middle, and ring fingers. The sensation may feel like pins and needles, electric shock, or a burning sensation. In some cases, the pain may radiate up your arm or down into your palm or fingers. The symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome may be more pronounced at night and can interfere with sleep.

Other symptoms of carpal tunnel include weakness in the hand and difficulty gripping objects. This can lead to unexpectedly dropping objects. Some people experience swelling or stiffness in the fingers or wrist, and in severe cases, muscle wasting in the palm.

To prevent further damage, reach out to your medical team and begin treatment early.

The Research on Carpal Tunnel Treatment

Research has shown that physical therapy can be an effective treatment option for carpal tunnel. A study published in the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy found that a combination of manual therapy and exercise therapy led to significant improvements in pain, function, and grip strength in patients.

Another study published in the Journal of Hand Therapy found that physical therapy was effective in reducing pain and improving function in patients with mild to moderate carpal tunnel syndrome.

Overall, physical therapy can be an effective non-surgical treatment option for carpal tunnel, and it’s often recommended as a first-line treatment before considering more invasive options such as surgery.

Physical Therapy for Carpal Tunnel

At Med1Care Therapy Partners, our goal is to address the underlying cause of your carpal tunnel and helpalleviate your symptoms. This requires reducing the inflammation and pressure on the median nerve.

Our physical therapists may recommend a combination of manual therapy, stretching, and strengthening exercises. Manual therapy may include soft tissue mobilization, joint mobilization, or nerve gliding techniques. These techniques can help to reduce your pain, increase your range of motion, and improve circulation to the area.

Stretching Exercises for Carpal Tunnel

Stretching exercises can help to improve flexibility, which can reduce pressure on the median nerve and prevent further damage.

Here are two examples of stretching exercises for carpal tunnel syndrome:

Wrist Flexor Stretch
• Begin by standing with your arms extended in front of you at shoulder height.
• With one hand, grab the fingers of the other hand and gently pull them back towards your forearm until you feel a stretch in your wrist and forearm.
• Hold the stretch for 10-15 seconds and repeat on the other hand.
• Repeat the stretch 2-3 times on each hand.

Wrist Extension Stretch
• Start by standing with your arms extended in front of you at shoulder height.
• With one hand, grab the fingers of the other hand and gently bend the wrist backwards until you feel a stretch in your wrist and forearm.
• Hold the stretch for 10-15 seconds and repeat on the other hand.
• Repeat the stretch 2-3 times on each hand.

It’s important to remember to stretch gently and not force any movements beyond what is comfortable. Stretching should be done regularly and in combination with other physical therapy techniques for the best results in managing your carpal tunnel.

Strengthening Exercises for Carpal Tunnel

Strengthening exercises can help to improve muscle strength, which can reduce pressure on the median nerve and prevent further damage.

Here are two examples of strengthening exercises for carpal tunnel syndrome:

Wrist Extension:
• Begin by sitting or standing with your arm extended in front of you at shoulder height.
• With a light weight in hand (e.g. a can of soup), palm facing down, slowly raise your hand towards the ceiling, keeping your forearm still.
• Hold for a few seconds, then slowly lower your hand back to the starting position.
• Repeat for 10-15 repetitions, then switch to the other hand.
• Gradually increase the weight as you get stronger.

Fist Squeeze:
• Start by sitting or standing with your arm extended in front of you at shoulder height.
• Hold a soft ball or small hand gripper in your hand.
• Squeeze the ball or gripper as hard as you can, holding for a few seconds.
• Release the grip and relax your hand.
• Repeat for 10-15 repetitions, then switch to the other hand.

Strengthening exercises for carpal tunnel syndrome should be done slowly and with light weights at first. Gradually increase the weight or resistance as your strength improves. It’s important to work with a physical therapist to determine the appropriate exercises for your individual needs and to avoid exacerbating your symptoms.

Signs You May Need Surgery for Carpal Tunnel

In most cases, physical therapy is the first-line treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome. However, if conservative treatments such as physical therapy, medication, and splinting don’t alleviate your symptoms, surgery may be recommended. Surgery is typically reserved for cases where there is severe or long-lasting nerve damage, or when symptoms significantly interfere with daily activities.

Our physical therapists may refer you to a hand surgeon if they suspect that surgery may be necessary. The hand surgeon will perform a thorough examination and may order diagnostic tests such as an electromyography (EMG) or nerve conduction study (NCS) to determine the severity of the nerve compression and the extent of nerve damage.

The decision to undergo surgery ultimately rests with you, but it’s important to discuss the potential risks and benefits of the procedure with a hand surgeon. Surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome is typically a minimally invasive procedure that involves cutting the ligament that is pressing on the median nerve, thereby relieving pressure and allowing the nerve to heal.

Get Started with Med1Care Physical Therapy

At Med1Care Therapy Partners, we are committed to helping you find relief. We regularly diagnose and treat carpal tunnel syndrome using exercises, stretching techniques, manual therapy, and other interventions. With our expertise in physical rehabilitation, combined with an understanding of your unique needs, we can help reduce the damage to your nerve.

We’ll partner with your physician to help you build a unique treatment plan to improve your movement and function with specialized exercises and education on low impact ways to manage daily living, relieve pain, prevent disability, and restore your functionality.

Call us at 419.866.0555 to schedule a free consultation.
Our specialists will help you chart a course forward.