Compression of the median nerve within the carpal tunnel in the wrist causes carpal tunnel syndrome.
Increased pressure on the nerve, often caused by repetitive hand movements such as typing, causes pain and discomfort and disrupts signals from the nerve to the brain. Doctors recommend several treatments for carpal tunnel syndrome, including exercise. The cause and seriousness of the condition determines the effectiveness of exercise in reducing the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome.
Causes
Anything that decreases the space in the carpal tunnel or causes increased pressure on the median nerve can cause carpal tunnel syndrome. Medical conditions, such as thyroid disease and diabetes, also can cause the condition, as can physiological changes related to aging. Other causes are injury and swelling in the carpal tunnel area; overuse of your hand, wrist and forearm; and scar tissue in the carpal tunnel area, according to MayoClinic.com.
Symptoms
Carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms include pain, numbness and tingling. You might experience symptoms in your fingers and hands, wrists and arms. Except for severe cases of the condition, symptoms are seldom constant and instead occur during the performance of certain activities, such as driving, typing or holding a book. The pain of carpal tunnel syndrome might wake you up at night, and symptoms often disappear with a change in hand position or activity. Symptoms might become more severe and last longer if the condition worsens.
Treatment
Doctor-recommended carpal tunnel syndrome treatments range from wearing a wrist splint to surgery. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons recommends a splint for about two weeks to relieve symptoms and correct the condition. Your doctor might suggest that you change positions when you are doing the activity that causes the pain, perform a few stretches of your arm and wrist, or engage in exercise. If none of these treatments alleviates the symptoms, your condition is severe or the symptoms are uncontrollable, your doctor might recommend surgery.
Exercise
Exercises can decrease carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms for some people by moving more blood to the carpal tunnel area and decreasing the pressure on the median nerve. Exercises combined with other treatments, such as cortisone injections and behavior modification, can provide more help with moderate symptoms, according to MayoClinic.com. Exercises also help prevent post-surgery or post-injury scarring near the carpal tunnel and the median nerve. Start exercises gradually to prevent additional harm or discomfort. Exercises are helpful only if performed regularly, preferably twice daily.
Exercise Examples
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons recommends an exercise in which you curl your fingers into a fist and bend your wrist towards your palm. Straighten your fingers and stretch your wrist in the opposite direction. Repeat this exercise 10 times. Simple stretching also helps alleviate symptoms. Another exercise begins with you making a fist, after which you uncurl your fingers until they are straight; repeat this exercise 10 times. Try a different exercise by making a fist, after which you uncurl your hand and fan out your fingers. Stretch your fingers as much as possible and repeat this exercise 10 times.
Tips
Avoid keeping your hands in one position for long periods without rest, such as when working at a computer. Inactivity, on the other hand, can make carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms worse. If you maintain one position often, keep your wrists as straight as possible because bending them increases the pressure on the median nerve. For severe carpal tunnel syndrome, a physical therapist can provide an exercise program.
Warning
Talk to your doctor about your condition before beginning exercises.
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