Reducing Carpal Tunnel Pain with Massage

WHAT IS CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME?

Your carpal tunnel is a passage that goes from your forearm to the palm of your hand. This narrow canal contains nine tendons and just one nerve, the median nerve. If the median nerve gets pinched in the tunnel it can cause pain and discomfort. This can be caused by swelling from wrist fractures, pregnancy, arthritis, thyroid issues, obesity, diabetes, menopause, or other factors. Usually symptoms are on the thumb side of your hand, and include a pins-and-needles feeling, numbness that extends to your thumb and first two or three fingers, and weak grip. Along with overuse of the wrist and hand, The Mayo Clinic warns that poor posture can make your shoulders roll forward, shortening your neck and shoulder muscles. This leads to compressed nerves in your neck, which can affect your fingers, hands and wrists. There are various other areas from the neck to the carpal tunnel that can be impinged. This can exacerbate the problem.

MASSAGE AND CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME

Massage has been proven to improve poor posture and lessen tension for most of the areas in the neck, arm, and wrist that are adding to the problem. Massage can break down scar tissue and adhesions in the muscles of the wrist and forearm, caused by trauma or overuse. It restores the affected muscles to full elasticity allowing the wrist to move freely, easing friction on the inflamed areas. Massage and stretching also loosens tendons and ligaments which takes pressure off of the median nerve. Some issues with the neck, upper arm, and shoulder can also add to this condition. Massage to all of these areas along with the arm and wrist can have tremendous benefits.

Links to other articles on Carpal Tunnel:

https://www.amtamassage.org/articles/3/MTJ/detail/2899/massage-carpal-tunnel-syndrome

https://www.epainassist.com/manual-therapy/massage-therapy/massage-therapy-can-do-wonders-in-treating-carpal-tunnel-syndrome-or-cts