Using treatments called Active Release Techniques (ART) and Graston, the doctors at Optimal Health Chiropractic and Physical Therapy are able to offer a more comprehensive approach to relieving carpal tunnel syndrome than most conventional therapies. Active Release Techniques and Graston, when combined with Chiropractic, can deliver dramatic results even when other treatment methods have failed.
What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
CTS is an repetitive overuse injury that affects the nerves of the forearms, wrists and hands. These nerves, called the median nerves, supply feeling to the hands and movement to the muscles of the hands and fingers. Over time, daily repetitive tasks involving the hands and fingers can cause pressure on these nerves resulting in progressively worsening pain, numbness, tingling and even weakness.
What Causes Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
CTS is caused by pressure on a nerve that runs from your elbow all the way down to your hand. Any repetitive task that involves the wrists such as sewing, typing and assembly work can cause injury over time. The result is inflammation and scar tissue.
If enough inflammation and scar tissue accumulates the nerve can become pinched, causing the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. Pinching can occur at the wrist, but often occurs in the muscles of the forearm as well. This area is rarely addressed in treatment which is why carpal tunnel surgery has such a high failure rate.
What are the Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
The most common symptoms include numbness, tingling, burning and pain in the hands and fingers, and are often present when working with your hands. Aching may also occur in the forearm from the elbows to the wrists. Symptoms often disappear when activity is discontinued, but may become constant over time and even wake you from sleep at night.
As the condition worsens, weakness may develop in the hands resulting in decreased grip strength and a lack of coordination when using your fingers. In more chronic cases the muscles of the thumbs may start to shrink and waste away, a condition called atrophy.
Why Conventional Treatment May Not Work
Most methods of treating CTS are passive – braces, casts, night splints, rest and medication – and don’t effectively treat the root cause of the condition. In fact, wrist braces can actually make symptoms worse. Treatment must address the wrist and the forearm to be effective.
Active Release Techniques has a success rate of over 90% because it does just that. It addresses all components of carpal tunnel syndrome: muscles, tendons, fascia and nerves. When combined with Chiropractic, it can help eliminate pain and symptoms in a short period of time. When The Graston Technique is done in combination with suggested exercises for the injured hand recovery time is generally accelerated. When this technique is used our doctors are able to penetrate the area deeper than a hand therefore providing better results in less time.
