Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when there is pressure on the median nerve that passes through the carpal tunnel, which is located in your wrist. This can be the result of injury or overuse of your forearm and hand muscles, causing you to experience tingling, numbness, weakness or pain in your arms, hands and fingers. Exercises for carpal tunnel pain can increase blood flow to the area. The Mayo Clinic states that exercises to relieve symptoms may not be effective on their own, but should be used along with other treatments such as splints or surgery. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons suggests that you do exercises for carpal tunnel pain each morning and before bedtime.
Stretching
Use your right hand to bend down your left wrist by pressing on the back of your left hand for 15 to 30 seconds. Stretch your left hand back the opposite way by pressing on your fingers and moving them backward for 15 to 30 seconds. Summit Medical Group recommends that you do this for three sets on each hand.
Wrist Range of Motion
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons suggests a range of motion exercise. Curl your fingers into a fist and bend your wrist down toward your palm, then straighten your fingers and stretch your wrist back. Repeat this 10 times on each hand. You can also try moving your wrist from side to side, or try it without making a fist and holding a soup can for extra strengthening.
Tendon Glide
Start with your fingers out straight. Bend your middle joints down toward your palm and hold the position for five seconds. Do three sets of 10 for this exercise. The Mayo Clinic states that gliding exercises help the median nerve move more freely in the carpal tunnel area.
Strengthening
Summit Medical Group recommends doing hand strengthening exercises for carpal tunnel. Try squeezing a rubber ball or tennis ball for five seconds at a time. Repeat with each hand for three sets of 10 for this exercise.
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