Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

ls a condition affecting the hand often causing pins and needles, pain and numbness. It occurs due to irritation of the median nerve.

The Carpal Tunnel:

This anatomical area is formed from the carpal (wrist) bones and the flexor retinaculum. These structured create a ‘groove’ in which the median nerve and the tendons of the wrist flexor muscles run. The retinaculum acts to stabilise the area and to ‘hold everything in place’.

The median nerve starts in the neck and runs down the arm across the wrist on the palm side and down into the hand. It is responsible for supplying certain muscle groups including those that flex the wrist and fingers; it also supplies sensation to the skin on the palm of the hand usually the thumb, first, second and half of the ring finger.

Symptoms;

Pins and needles in the thumb, first and second finger

Pain from the wrist into the hand and fingers

Weaker grip on the affected side

Numbness in the thumb, first and second finger

Burning in the hand

It is common for symptoms to worsen at night, evidence suggests this is because the wrist falls into flexion while we sleep, a simple wrist splint can reduce these symptoms.

Causes;

There is no exact cause although research has highlighted
several areas

Repetitive strain injury; constant movement of the wrist from flexion to extension can cause tightness and inflammation of the flexor retinaculum and so irritate the median nerve

Pregnancy; causes swelling around the wrist and so compressing the nerve

Wrist fractures

What to do to increase ‘Core Stability’;

Exercises to mobilise the median nerve to allow it glide more freely

Joint mobilisations to the wrist bones

Splinting to prevent flexion of the wrist and limit irritation of the nerve

Changes to aggravating factions e.g. ergonomic keyboards

Injections to the area

Surgery