Chiropractic and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition that causes pain, numbness and tingling in the palm of the hand, the thumb and fingers. The pain is usually worse at night and causes problems with gripping and clumsiness in the hands.
The median nerve is the nerve effected in carpal tunnel syndrome as it runs through a tunnel in the wrist created by the wrist bones and ligaments. Typically carpal tunnel problems are aggrevated by working with the wrist bent in full extension or flexion. Fluid retention problems may worsen carpal tunnel (such as pregnancy or diabetes).
Often a carpal tunnel like syndrome may result from impingement of the median nerve at the pronator teres muscle in the forearm. Problems with the pronator teres are not directly linked to carpal tunnel but impinge the same nerve (median nerve). Pronator teres syndrome is usually successfully treated by Chiropractic methods especially including myofascial release.
The wrist may be tender in carpal tunnel and the muscles of the thumb may be effected and be visibly smaller.
Chiropractic management of carpal tunnel involves adjustments of the bones of the wrist as well as splinting and avoiding aggrevating activities. Additionally, myofascial release when combined with Chiropractic methods has been shown to be effective in the management of carpal tunnel.