What Is the Role of Physiotherapy in the Treatment of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
The Carpal Tunnel is a narrow space in the wrist through which a nerve passes; when this nerve becomes compressed, it causes Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. This is a type of compression peripheral neuropathy. In short, when this happens, the patient loses full hand functionality. Beginning with the thumb and index fingers and progressing to the middle, ring, and pinkie fingers.
This condition is common in diabetic patients because nerve damage of various types is common in those with high Blood Glucose levels. Unfortunately, most nerve damage cannot be totally reversed or corrected, but ongoing damage can be stopped with normalized blood glucose levels.
Carpal tunnel syndrome worsens over time in most patients, so early diagnosis and treatment are critical. Physiotherapy at home can effectively treat patients with mild to moderate symptoms. Physiotherapists are experts in movement. They improve people’s lives by providing hands-on care, patient education, and prescribed movement.
Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Pain along the wrist joint line worsens at night and may interfere with sleep. It can sometimes cause morning pain.
- Pain while performing certain activities such as typing, writing, or housework
- Numbness and tingling along the shadowed area (thumb, index finger, middle finger and half of the ring finger)
- Reduced manual dexterity
What Is the Role of Physiotherapy in the Treatment of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Physiotherapy at home can help with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome by relieving pain and numbness and by helping restore normal hand, wrist, and arm function without requiring surgery. Physiotherapists combine a number of factors to prevent and treat using both natural and performed factors. Their action reduces pain, stimulates immune mechanisms, and helps improve biochemical performance. Physiotherapy at home in Kolkata is less expensive, non-invasive, and simple to implement when compared to other therapies. Your physiotherapist initiates the treatment by following the methods mentioned below:
Assessment
Your physiotherapist will first thoroughly assess your condition. However, before beginning treatment, your therapist will want to know if the pain is limited to the wrist, as nerve compression can begin higher up in the body. They may, for example, ask you to stand tall, balance, and even walk to assess your gait, which aids in the detection of muscle and nerve weaknesses. Your therapist can then show you gliding exercises, nerve flossing, traction, and stretches to relieve strain on the muscles that constrict the carpal tunnel and press on the median nerve.
Non-Surgical Pain Relief
There will be no medication used in your carpal tunnel physiotherapy. But your therapist will certainly work with you to reduce your discomfort using a variety of therapeutic modalities. Because many carpal tunnel conditions are work-related. Your therapist may also recommend ergonomic settings at work and at home to prevent strain.
Physiotherapy aims to avoid long-term damage and surgical intervention. If surgery is required, rest assured that physiotherapy will be the next step in properly healing the tendons, nerves, and muscles.
Exercises
After your therapist has addressed the source of your discomfort. They will work with you to relax the muscles that are putting strain on the median nerve. But don’t be shocked if these stretches extend beyond the hands. As you may recall, nerves radiate from the top of the head. So by the time they reach your wrist, the pain could be caused by something else.
Wrist Braces & Splints
Fitting the patient with a resting or nighttime splint that keeps the wrist in a neutral position is one of the most effective treatments for carpal tunnel syndrome. The reason for the splint is that many people unknowingly put themselves in a position that impairs the median nerve during rest. Your physiotherapist will find a splint that will keep your wrist in the proper position for healing. This is particularly important because you want to ensure that the device you choose does not exacerbate your pain. Braces come in a variety of sizes, and your therapist will recommend one that will not put additional strain on your nerves.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome treatment should be initiated as soon as possible. The functionality of the affected hand can be restored by appropriate Physiotherapy at home in Kolkata and rehabilitation programs in a large percentage of cases where carpal canal abnormalities are not present.
