When you’re experiencing hand and wrist pain, it can make everyday tasks uncomfortable. This can mean anything from texting on your cellphone to turning a doorknob. A potential cause of this pain is carpal tunnel syndrome, a common condition with a prevalence rate of up to 5% in the general population.
Carpal tunnel syndrome refers to a condition that causes tingling and numbness in the arm and hand. It occurs when the median nerve located in the carpal tunnel becomes pinched. It can be caused by injury or repetitive movements. For many people who develop the condition, it can interfere with their overall quality of life. This is especially true for those who work a lot with their hands. It’s often deemed as a work-related injury. It can develop from tasks such as typing for extended periods of time or repeatedly using handheld tools.
The good news is that physical therapy can help prevent the development of carpal tunnel syndrome. It can keep your hands and wrists as mobile as possible for your everyday activities. In this blog post, we’ll talk about how physical therapy can help you take preventive action against the condition.
4 ways that physical therapy can help prevent carpal tunnel syndrome
If you believe that you’re at risk for developing carpal tunnel syndrome due to the nature of your job or because you have a medical condition that can cause inflammation in the wrist, such as diabetes, there are preventive steps you can take.
Physical therapy can help improve the overall quality and function of your hand and wrist to reduce the risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome. By being proactive, you can reduce the probability of experiencing finger stiffness and wrist pain that can interfere with your ability to comfortably carry out everyday movements, such as cooking or filling out paperwork.
A physical therapist will determine which PT treatments would suit you best. They’ll look at your medical history, lifestyle and physical challenges. They’ll also consider your overall goals for physical therapy.
Here are four ways that physical therapy can help you prevent carpal tunnel syndrome:
- Increasing muscle strength — One of the most effective ways to reduce the risk of developing musculoskeletal issues, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, is to improve the strength of the muscles in the targeted areas. Your physical therapist can show you how to perform muscle strengthening exercises for your wrist, hand and fingers. Common strengthening exercises for these areas include finger curls and ball squeezes.
- Suggesting lifestyle changes — We’re all guilty of having some bad habits. They can become unconscious as time goes on. It’s possible that you have certain habits in your day-to-day life that can increase the risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome. Your physical therapist can help make suggestions for lifestyle changes that can reduce that risk. Examples include eating noninflammatory foods and scheduling breaks for repetitive hand movements like typing.
- Adjusting your posture — When your hands and wrists have poor posture during tasks, it can increase the strain on the area. This can potentially lead to carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms. Your physical therapist can help you learn to make gradual adjustments to your wrist and finger position during everyday activities, such as keeping them in line with your arms as you walk.
- Recommending protective gear — If you perform repetitive movements as part of your everyday routine or work responsibilities, wearing proper gear can protect your muscles, tendons and joints from excessive pressure on the median nerve. Your physical therapist can recommend protective devices or gear to wear during those tasks, such as a brace.
It’s important to note that carpal tunnel syndrome may develop due to a root or secondary cause in your neck. These may require different physical therapy treatments.
Forever Fit can help you prevent carpal tunnel syndrome with physical therapy
You don’t have to wait until you have an issue to seek the help of a physical therapist. Preventive measures can go a long way in your health and wellness journey. While physical therapy can’t completely eliminate the possibility of you developing carpal tunnel syndrome, it can help reduce the risk of experiencing symptoms. It can also improve the overall quality of the area’s muscles and joints.
At Forever Fit, we want to make sure that you’re proactive about potential medical conditions, such as carpal tunnel syndrome. With options like targeted exercises and lifestyle change recommendations, we can help you reduce the possibility of carpal tunnel syndrome. We want to help you keep your hand, wrist and fingers as mobile and pain-free as possible.
Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.