Carpal tunnel syndrome is a painful illness that affects the nerves in one or both wrists. Repetitive motion such as frequent computer use can lead to this condition, causing numbness or pain in your wrists or fingertips. Talk to your doctor if you think you have carpal tunnel syndrome to get a proper diagnosis and discuss treatment options.
Forms of Exercises
Exercises designed to treat and prevent carpal tunnel syndrome focus on working your wrists, fingers and hands. They work to stretch or contract your wrist muscles. By performing these exercises, you bring more blood flow to your wrists. The University of Maryland Medical Center suggests performing hand exercises for 3 to 5 minutes out of every hour during your day, to prevent and treat carpal tunnel discomfort.
Sample Exercises
Perform a carpal tunnel hand exercise by grabbing your right thumb with your left hand, then pulling the thumb out and back. Hold this for 5 to 10 seconds, and repeat five times on each hand. Exercise your wrists to treat or avoid carpal tunnel syndrome by holding your right arm out straight in front of you with your wrist flexed so your palm faces forward. Use your left hand to stretch your right fingertips back towards your body gently. Hold the stretch for 5 seconds, then repeat five times on each side of your body. Gliding hand exercises may reduce swelling if you suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome. To perform a gliding hand exercise, bend and straighten your fingers repeatedly without moving your wrist.
Post-Surgery Exercises
In some cases, hand exercises are not enough to treat carpal tunnel syndrome alone. If you are struggling with carpal tunnel pain and hand exercises do not help, your doctor may recommend surgery. After your surgical procedure, your doctor may suggest rehabilitative hand exercises for you to perform. It's important that you follow your doctor's advice after your surgery and practice post-operative exercises as directed.
Considerations
The American Academy of Neurology states that exercises that involve squeezing your hand into a fist can actually aggravate your carpal tunnel syndrome. Practicing yoga in addition to performing specific hand exercises can help you keep and increase the range of motion in your wrists affected with carpal tunnel.
Warning
Carpal tunnel syndrome can be a symptom of another condition or illness such as pregnancy, diabetes or thyroid disease. If you are pregnant or have an underlying illness and you experience carpal tunnel pain, talk to your doctor before beginning a new exercise routine. Your doctor can suggest exercises that are safe for you to perform and can provide relief for your carpal tunnel syndrome.
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