Our carpal tunnel is actually an important passageway through the wrist. The nerves and muscles from your hands and fingers go through the tunnel and up to the arm. Unfortunately, there are times when this fundamental median nerve which transmits feeling and motion to the fingers and hands gets pressed or squeezed. This pressure may happen due to prolonged pressure from repetitive actions like keyboard typing, chopping, pushing, or hammering. When the nerve function gets damaged by this pressure, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) occurs.

Do you know what the causes of CTS are? Many traditional people thought that spending long periods of time typing on a keyboard can result to CTS. However, that is not verified. According to a study conducted by Mayo Clinic, there are various factors that can cause this condition such as injuries, obesity, carpal tunnels that are naturally narrow, arthritis, retention of fluid during pregnancy, Diabetes, thyroid conditions, regular use of vibrating hand tools, and inadequate work ergonomics. There are also predisposing factors. Women are three times more likely to develop the condition than mean. This condition also rarely affects children.

The common symptoms of CTS are burning, numbness, itching or tingling in your hand or fingers. In extreme cases, carpal tunnel syndrome can make it hard for you to feel hot or cold temperatures or to grasp things. If you are already having these symptoms, immediately check with a chiropractor. Timely CTS detection and intervention can result to quicker recovery.

Chiropractors have methods to diagnose and treat CTS. CTS may be treated in various methods depending on its severity. Most of the time, chiropractic care on the affected wrist area was evidently effective. Additionally, your Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) may tell you to rest the hand and wrist for a certain period of time. The chiropractor would also apply a splint to immobilize the wrist area, ice the wrist, manipulate the joints, and may instruct you to do strengthening and stretching exercises

Many DCs, especially Board Certified chiropractors from Chiropractic Colorado Springs, utilize a manual manipulation procedure called Active Release Technique (ART) to treat carpal tunnel syndrome and other injuries to soft tissues (muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia and nerves) damaged by repetitive jobs. ART is a conventional treatment used by several professional athletes, including Carl Lewis, Lance Armstrong, and Tiger Woods to treat assorted soft-tissue conditions.

With ART, your chiropractor will examine the soft tissue on the concerned area to locate adhesions or scar tissue that combines with other tissues, which then causes pain. Next, your chiropractor will apply pressure to specific areas while telling you to move your wrist as directed. This will help restore the length, flexibility, and natural texture to the swollen tissue. Oftentimes, patients immediately feel instant relief after undergoing this treatment procedure. Lance Armstrong, a CTS patient, once said, "The most important man on the team may have been the chiropractor. I could not have won without my chiropractorʼs help."

Many doctors might immediately prescribe medication regimen plus injection of corticosteroids to briefly relieve the pain and swelling. Typically, these do not treat the cause of the condition and symptoms will eventually reoccur. If these are not effective, the doctor might recommend you for surgery if your CTS is already unmanageable. Regrettably, surgery can cause scarring and weakening of the transverse ligament. The scars may cause irritation on the median nerve and the symptoms will just reoccur. Therefore, surgery should only be opted only if other conservative alternative treatment methods fail to treat the condition.

At present, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is becoming the most widespread of work-related dangers in the world. It is a painful and devastating condition which generally affects more women than men. Prompt detection and treatment would result into a faster overall recovery. Chiropractic care is proven an effective alternative treatment procedure for CTS. In addition to chiropractic care, the patient should also modify work habits and lifestyle and avoid stressful activities to promote general recovery. In the end, our body has an innate ability to restore its own functions.