What Are The Exercises For Active Release Techniques For Carpal Tunnel?

Carpal tunnel syndrome can be caused by overuse injuries, irritated tendons or swelling from certain diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, and is usually accompanied by sharp pain in your wrist that comes and goes, according to Medlin Plus. The Active Release Techniques, which includes specific soft-tissue massage, may be effective in treating your carpal tunnel syndrome.

History

Active Release Techniques, or ART, was developed by Dr. P. Michael Leahy, a doctor of chiropractic and a certified chiropractic sports physician. Your ART provider uses his hands to examine and evaluate your muscles, tendons, ligaments and nerves in your affected area. Dr. Leahy reports that there are over 500 specific moves as part of ART protocol and that your treatment is determined by your specific injury and condition.

Treatment Protocol

During your ART treatment, your care provider will feel the affected areas of your hands and wrist searching for increased tension, abnormal textures and restricted movements. After finding an area that needs work, your provider will instruct you to move the specific part of your hand or wrist to lengthen the tendon or ligament, and he will apply tension to it by pushing on it with his fingers or thumb. He will then instruct you to return the body part back to its original position. This technique can break down scar tissue and restore normal movement to your hand and wrist affected by carpal tunnel syndrome.

Benefits

According to William F. Frady, D.C., most ART sessions take only 10 to 15 minutes, and most problems are generally resolved after 8 to 10 treatments. Because ART treatment is non-invasive and is a form of soft-tissue massage, there are no side effects similar to a surgical procedure or from medications. According to a 2006 study published in the "Journal of Chiropractic Medicine," ART can be an effective treatment for your carpal tunnel syndrome, although more research is continuing.

Prevention

After completing your ART treatment, there are things you can do to prevent your carpal tunnel syndrome from reoccurring. The American Academy of Family Physicians reports that taking regular breaks from repeated hand movements, not working with your hands too far from your body and switching hands during tasks can be ways to help prevent carpal tunnel syndrome.

Considerations

Always follow your doctor or physical therapist's instructions when treating your carpal tunnel syndrome. While ART can be beneficial in treating carpal tunnel syndrome and restoring full range of motion, the treatments can be painful during the first few seconds of treatment, according to the NOVA Chiropractic and Wellness Center. This pain is usually caused by your provider applying pressure to specific areas and is gone after a few seconds. The severity of your condition and your pain tolerance help determine how uncomfortable some parts of your treatment may be.