Chiropractic Helps Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Dr. Ernst sees a lot of people troubled with carpal tunnel syndrome in our busy Arlington, WA chiropractic practice. While some people think that the source of this wrist-related pain is muscular, it's actually a condition that stems from the nerves--and not just the nerves in your hands.

A recent study printed in the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy assessed 71 women between the ages of 35 and 59 who were diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome. Upon studying the subjects' neck range of motion, the authors found that the patients had reduced cervical flexibility when compared to a healthy control group.

In addition, it was also found that the level of the women's reported carpal tunnel discomfort was linked to the lateral flexion of the cervical spine. In short, the less flexibility in the neck, the higher the level of pain.

This study is very important, as you cannot effectively address a condition until you fully understand its cause. By recognizing that the root of carpal tunnel symptoms is in the neck, this means that natural approaches like chiropractic can often restore normal function, reducing the need for risky operations.

If you suffer with carpal tunnel pain, call our Arlington, WA office and ask how Dr. Ernst can help you get relief!

References

De-la-Llave-Rincon A et al. (2011, May). Women with carpal tunnel syndrome show restricted cervical range of motion. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy;41(5):305-10.
Simon H. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. University of Maryland Medical Center. Updated May 6, 2012. Retrieved from https://umm.edu/health/medical/reports/articles/carpal-tunnel-syndrome on November 2, 2015.