Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition that causes pain, numbness, and tingling in the hand and arm. It is caused when one of the major nerves to the hand — the median nerve — is compressed as it travels through a narrow passageway in the wrist called the carpal tunnel.
The good news is there are a lot of ways to ease symptoms – and one of those is through physical therapy. At the office of The Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Center, our skilled professionals will work with you to reduce your pain and help you regain strength and mobility.
If carpal tunnel is diagnosed early, it can be treated by physical therapy alone. In severe cases, surgery may be needed prior to physical therapy. But if left untreated, carpal tunnel syndrome can lead to weakness and lack of coordination in your fingers and thumb.
During hand therapy, exercises are performed to improve nerve healing, increase range of motion and strength, reduce the formation of scar tissue, and decrease swelling. One example is a “gliding” exercise that focuses on the hand’s nerves and tendons, improving the way the tendons move through the carpal tunnel of the wrist.
Your physical therapist might suggest a brace to wear at night to keep your wrist straight. You might even wear it during the day, when you’re doing activities that may worsen your symptoms. The therapist may also suggest changes you can make to help reduce your symptoms at work, at home, and in your leisure time.
Physical therapy will help you meet your goals of pain relief and better hand function. At the office of The Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Center, we’re dedicated to providing the highest quality of skilled and compassionate rehabilitative care. For more information on our office and the many services that we provide, give us a call today.