Carpal Tunnel Therapy Exercises

If you spend long hours at your keyboard, you could develop carpal tunnel syndrome. This painful condition afflicts the median nerve, a main nerve to your hand that must travel through the narrow carpal tunnel. When your carpal tunnel becomes constricted from heavy use, health issues or other problems, the nerve is impacted and you feel the pain. Luckily, carpal tunnel syndrome is treatable and, for some people, a series of exercises can ease the pain.

Treating Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome can be treated in a variety of ways, depending on its seriousness. If you have carpal tunnel syndrome, talk to your doctor about a treatment plan that's right for you. She may recommend nonsurgical options such as a wrist splint or certain medications. However, for pain or numbness that persists longer than six months, you may need to consider surgery. Stretches and hand exercises can help ease pain temporarily but are not usually prescribed on their own to treat carpal tunnel syndrome.

Benefits of Exercises

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, stretching and strengthening exercises can help people whose symptoms have abated. Yoga has also been shown to reduce pain and improve grip strength. Nerve gliding exercises are designed to help the median nerve move normally within the carpal tunnel and can effectively complement other types of treatment. However, their benefit is limited. A Turkish study conducted in 2002 found that exercises helped only slightly, while wrist splints resulted in significant improvement in symptoms.

Dangers of Exercises

The same nerve gliding exercises that benefit some carpal tunnel sufferers can hurt others. If the median nerve is trapped and unable to move within the carpal tunnel, it can be stretched, irritated or injured by nerve gliding exercises. Consult a physical therapist or occupational therapist before attempting any rehabilitation exercises.

Types of Exercises

Sports Injury Clinic lists two types of carpal tunnel syndrome exercises. Stretching exercises work the muscles and tendons surrounding the wrist, making sure they're in good condition. The exercises are simple: bend your wrist forwards and hold for 10 to 20 seconds, applying some pressure; then repeat with your wrist bent backwards. Strengthening exercises help prevent future injuries by strengthening the muscles of the wrist. These involve pressing upward or downward with your hand in a fist. However, do not attempt these exercises without professional supervision and guidance.

Alternative Remedies

Carpal tunnel syndrome exercises are clearly limited in their scope and effectiveness; if you have serious symptoms, you will probably need to seek medical care. However, if you're just starting to notice symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, try treating it by changing your habits and wrist position. If you work at a computer, rearrange your desk to provide better wrist support. Take frequent breaks to change your hand position. If necessary, try wearing a wrist splint. All of these tactics can help relieve your symptoms and ward off carpal tunnel syndrome, at least temporarily.