Physiotherapy can help in all physically related injuries that need manual handling and healing. And physiotherapy is just as beneficial in management of Carpal Tunnel syndrome.
What is Carpal tunnel Syndrome?
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a neuropathy that causes pain, paresthesia, numbness, and other symptoms in the distribution of the median nerve due to its compression at the wrist in the carpal tunnel area.
People with carpal tunnel syndrome usually experience the following:
- Starts gradually with a burning, tingling or itching numbness in the palm and the fingers
- There is usually a paresthesia of the thumb, index, middle and radial half of the ring finger
- Wrist pain as well as in the hand radiates to the forearm
- One experience weakness in the thenar muscle
Carpal tunnel syndrome if experience may prevent people from performing manual tasks as well as it may cause the decrease of grip strength which may result to difficulty to form a fist or grasps small objects.
Causes of Carpal tunnel Syndrome
Women are three times more likely to develop CTS than men because women's carpal tunnel is much smaller than in men. Dominant hand will be affected first. Severe pain may happen overtime. But what causes CTS?
CTS are usually due to so many contributing factors. Here they are:
- Congenital predisposition-the carpal tunnel is simply smaller.
- Trauma or injury to the wrist
- Sprain/ fracture in the wrist
- Over activity of pituitary gland
- Hypothyroidism
- wrist joint mechanical problems
- vibrating hand tools that is repeatedly used
- retention of fluid during pregnancy
- stress in work
- cyst or tumor in the canal
People who are in assembly work usually experiences CTS.
Usual Treatment of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
CTS is normally treated by one treatment or a combination of two.
Open Release Surgery– this has been known as the traditional way of healing CTS. The surgery is consists of making incision up to 2 inches in the wrist. Then the carpal ligament is cut to enlarge the carpal tunnel.
Drug Treatment-drugs that can ease pain and swelling are available for CTS. Non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are also sued to ease symptoms. Water pills are also administered to decrease swelling. Studies show that vitamin B supplements can help in symptoms of CTS. But then drugs or medications should be taken cautiously because sometimes they may in opposition with other conditions.
Endoscopic surgery– many people tend to opt for endoscopic surgery because it is less comfortable after the surgery. It is faster to recover in this type of technique too. A camera is inserted in the tube and then inserted in a very small incision in the wrist. The camera will guide the surgeon to the carpal ligament. Then the cutting will happen.
Physical Therapy to Manage Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Physical therapy may happen before you opt for surgical treatments. Physical therapy can aid in the CTS with its exercises. A physical therapist can do the job in helping in your CTS. Exercises combination as well as stretching can be integrated in the physiotherapy program.
Physiotherapy for CTS may include therapeutic exercise interventions. It will address the endurance conditioning, aerobic capacity, balance, coordination and agility aspects of the CTS. To be more specific, manual therapy such as manipulation and mobilization, manual traction and massage are being used to help in the
A physiotherapist also makes use of some aid in the process. These aids are usually electrical modalities that make use of electrical muscle stimulation and neuromuscular electrical stimulation. Compression therapies as well as mechanical motion devices are very helpful for the CTS condition.
When you have CTS, a physiotherapist can also do the physical therapy in the whirlpool tanks, baths and pools; it is called hydrotherapy.
Managing CTS with physiotherapy is a way of doing your medication in a less pressured manner. Sometimes physiotherapy is a better choice among people who were a little bit afraid of surgeries. Through a series of this manual physiotherapy, your body may benefit more too.
