Although carpal tunnel syndrome may seem like a small problem, the impact it can have on how you function, not to mention the pain, can lead to serious quality-of-life issues. As a repetitive stress issue, there are ways to reduce the stressors that lead to carpal tunnel syndrome.
At Mass Ave Chiropractic, our team of holistic and integrative practitioners led by Dr. Joseph Kielur believes that one of the best ways to maintain your health is through solid preventive practices. And you’d be surprised at how many problems can be prevented, which is certainly true of carpal tunnel syndrome.
Here are a few great techniques for keeping carpal tunnel syndrome from interfering with your life.
One of the keys to practicing great prevention is to understand your risks. Carpal tunnel syndrome is a repetitive stress injury that affects your median nerve, which travels through the narrow carpal tunnel in your wrist. When this nerve becomes inflamed, it can cause problems with pain, numbness, and tingling — which are all symptoms of peripheral neuropathy.
Many activities can lead to added stress on your carpal tunnel and its occupants, including:
If you engage in any activity in which you call upon your wrists for long periods or for repetitive movements, you run the risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome.
Once you’ve assessed your risk (or perhaps you’ve already been through one bout of carpal tunnel syndrome), you can take steps to prevent inflammation in your median nerve, including:
This last point is one that’s worth underscoring. If you’re at risk for carpal tunnel syndrome, exercises can go a long way toward prevention. For example, make a fist with your fingers and then straighten all of your fingers at once, as far as they can go. Then repeat this exercise about 10 times in a row.
Another great exercise is to stretch out your arm with your palm facing up. Now use your other hand to gently pull your fingers down and back and hold for about half a minute. Repeat this exercise four or five times, and then do the same thing with your palm facing down.
Your musculoskeletal system is highly complex and interconnected, which means that a problem in one area can have an impact on another. In the case of carpal tunnel syndrome, your posture and spine alignment can have an impact on your wrist, which is why we recommend regular chiropractic care.
During your treatments, we correct any misalignments in your spine and discuss the importance of posture. By ensuring that the foundation of your entire musculoskeletal system is properly aligned, you can avoid peripheral issues like carpal tunnel syndrome.
If you have more questions about carpal tunnel syndrome or it’s already set in, please contact our office in Indianapolis, Indiana, to set up an appointment.
