Many people suffer from a range of wrist complaints and are unsure what the issue is. In many cases undiagnosed, carpal tunnel syndrome is an assumed diagnosis perhaps because it is a common ailment from basic irregularities in wrist biomechanics. The wrist is a complicated region to examine, simply because of how many small structures that make up the area! With how many parts to the wrist there are, there are as many issues that can occur in the area. We rely on our wrists to carry out a great number of our normal daily activities, so it’s important to keep the wrists healthy!
The first step to identifying a wrist problem is understanding what we are doing wrong with our wrists. Overuse injuries or repetitive use improperly can be traced to a high percentage of wrist complaints. Genetics, pregnancy, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and nutritional imbalances have also been shown to be causes of carpal tunnel syndrome. Once we identify the cause, we can trace how to address the root problem to impact the condition over time!
One of the most common causes for carpal tunnel syndrome that we see at Salt and Spine is overuse and improper biomechanics of the wrists. For carpal tunnel syndrome, prolonged wrist flexion (bending the hand forward), or prolonged wrist extension (bending the hand backward) are one of the most common causes for the condition. Several professions that involve forceful application of the wrists and hands such as In many cases, working at a computer with excess typing or mouse movements are likely to be a culprit of the complaint. The carpal tunnel consists of a ring of the carpal bones. Through the “ring” passes important arteries and nerves that supply the hand and fingers. These altered positions apply pressure to the carpal tunnel, particularly inside the “ring.”
Carpal tunnel syndrome is marked by compression of the median nerve from the pressure in between the carpals. You may be suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome if you experience the following: numbness or altered sensations at the fingers with your palm remaining “normal,” weakened thumb range of motion, and general pain at the wrist. Certain activities such as typing, moving your mouse, driving, or other activities that show overuse patterns may provoke episodes to worsen.
Once you feel any of these symptoms, it is important to have your wrist(s) looked at by a chiropractor as quickly as possible. Management for carpal tunnel syndrome has many approaches, with strong evidence of success with chiropractic care as one of the options! After your exam, we have multiple approaches to working on the wrists including adjustments, muscle tissue release, exercise rehab, KT taping, and shockwave therapy. Following breaking down some of the inflammation, restoring proper mobility becomes a key focus to address keeping your wrist moving well!
From overuse to environmental factors, carpal tunnel syndrome is something that is addressable! Don’t wait until the pain is unbearable to have treatment. Ask one of our doctors how they can help you with your wrist pains today!
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