Your carpal tunnel is a small area similar in size to your thumb on the palm side of your wrist. Its purpose is to shield a main nerve that runs to your hand. Pressure on that nerve causes pain or numbness and may lead to the development of a condition called carpal tunnel syndrome. According to the Mayo Clinic website, carpal tunnel syndrome can result from extended time using a computer keyboard, arthritis, injury or your carpal tunnel area being too narrow. Home remedies for helping carpal tunnel pain include exercises to help with pain and build strength.
Options
Your doctor can tell you if you have carpal tunnel syndrome. She will recommend treatments based on the severity of your case. According to the FamilyDoctor.org website, stretching exercises may help reduce swelling. If you are not getting relief by doing the exercises and using other home treatments such as wearing a wrist band, you may need surgery. After surgery there are recovery exercises that will strengthen your hand, wrist and fingers that you can do at home.
Research
The University of Pennsylvania conducted a scientific research study on yoga's ability to help carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms. The study was published in the "Journal of the American Medical Association" and is an initial step in validating exercise therapy for carpal tunnel pain. There were 42 carpal tunnel syndrome patients in the study, ranging in age from 24 to 77 years. The group that did yoga had better grip strength and less pain than the group that did no exercise.
Pain
Yoga exercises are beneficial for some patients with carpal tunnel pain. Yoga targets strength and flexibility that may help the weakened carpal tunnel area. Physical activity is associated with better health, and the University of Maryland Medical Center website states that regular strength and aerobic workouts will support your overall health and may reduce the risk for nerve issues such as carpal tunnel syndrome.
Prevention
Wrist and arm stretches may help prevent carpal tunnel syndrome, according to the Palo Alto Medical Foundation website. You can do stretches to warm up the muscles, such as rotating your wrist, stretching and relaxing your fingers, and stretching your thumb back. Repeat each of these four times. If these exercises do not cause discomfort, you can proceed with arm and wrist exercises.
Stretches
The prayer stretch focuses on the area under your forearm. To perform this stretch, stand with your palms together in front of you at chest level. Lower your hands slowly down to your stomach keeping your hands close to your body and hold for 15 to 30 seconds.
Two additional carpal tunnel stretches are the wrist flexor stretch and the write extensor stretch. To perform these stretches, place your arm out in front of you and then bend your wrist, first starting with your palm up and next with it down.
Warnings
You should not stretch to the point of pain or discomfort since you can cause further inflammation. Rest is recommended to help carpal tunnel syndrome heal because it will help reduce inflammation in the hand and wrist and relieve pressure on the nerve.
Member Comments