Carpal tunnel syndrome is a neuromuscular disorder of the wrist that causes pain, numbness, weakness and a loss of motor function in the hand. This occurs due to swelling and inflammation in the wrist that compresses the median nerve. The median nerve is one of three primary nerves that innervate the hand and passes through carpal tunnel from the arm to the hand. Repetitive hand or wrist movements, overuse, injury, infections and inflammation can cause carpal tunnel. Patients with chronic or severe carpal tunnel syndrome are often treated with surgery to relieve pressure on the median nerve. However, studies at the University of Oklahoma Orthopaedic and Reconstructive Research Foundation found that most patients with mild to moderate symptoms avoided surgery with strengthening exercises for the wrist.
Carpal Tunnel Stretch Exercise
This exercise was developed by Dr. Housang Seradge, from the University of Oklahoma Orthopaedic and Reconstructive Research Foundation, to relieve carpal tunnel symptoms. To perform this exercise, the patient holds his hands straight in front of him with his hands bent up to form a 90-degree angle with the wrists. Then the patient makes a tight fist with each hand and bends both wrists down. Finally, both hands are relaxed and help straight in front of him, palms down, for five to 10 seconds, before relaxing and repeating the exercise 10 times.
Forearm and Wrist Twist
Ellen Serber, a certified yoga instructor and writer from Northern California, recommends this exercise for carpal tunnel syndrome and other repetitive stress injuries of the wrist. The patient places the palm of her affected hand flat on a wall, with the fingers spread out while facing the wall. Then the elbow is extended and the palm is pressed into the wall. Next the body is turned so that she is standing beside the wall with her hand still in place on the wall. This exercise is repeated five to 10 times.
Wrist Rotation and Stretch
To perform this exercise, the patient begins in a seated position at a table or desk. While resting the lower arm on the desk, he makes a fist of both hands and slowly bends the fists to the right and left. Then he lifts both arms and rotates both wrists to make stationary circles in the air. The hands are then relaxed and the fingers are placed at the edge of the desk and bent upward to stretch the hands. This can be repeated before typing or writing or several times a day to prevent and treat carpal tunnel syndrome.
Member Comments