A common condition, especially among women
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common condition that affects women more often than men. One study found CTS present in 2.7% of all women studied; among 51 pregnant women with CTS, 59.4% had mild cases, 18.8% moderate, and 21.9% severe, while among 61 non-pregnant women with CTS, 73.6% had mild cases, 20.8% moderate, and 5.6% severe.
CTS tends to result from a combination of factors: it can be hereditary; repetitive hand and wrist motion over time can put pressure on the nerve; activities involving hyperextension and flexion of the hand and wrist can cause nerve swelling; pregnancy can bring it on through hormonal swelling; and diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis are other contributing causes.
The familiar pain and numbness
If you or someone you love is dealing with CTS, you likely recognize the familiar pain and numbness that makes everyday tasks difficult. Most people with CTS find themselves shaking their hand and wrist just to get some relief. The good news is there are effective ways to manage the condition, and physical therapy is one of the most reliable.
What your treatment plan may include
Your therapy program will depend on the cause and severity of your CTS, but it often includes several pieces: a worksite visit, whether home- or office-based, so your therapist can assess your workspace and identify contributing factors, which is where correct ergonomics come in; exercise routines to build strength in the hand, fingers, and forearm, sometimes extending to the trunk and postural back muscles; stretching exercises to improve flexibility in the wrist, hand, and fingers, since pain can make it hard to move these areas and can cause you to drop things; heat and cold treatments for pain relief, along with a night splint to reduce discomfort; and education on proper posture, wrist positioning, stretching exercises for work breaks, and how to safely handle sharp utensils, since a sudden numb hand can be dangerous around them.
Your physical therapist bases your treatment plan on ongoing assessment and evaluation, and may temporarily limit leisure activities that aggravate your CTS, tennis is a common example, since gripping a racquet requires repetitive wrist movement that can make symptoms worse.
Dedication makes the difference
This isn’t forever, it’s a temporary adjustment to support your recovery. Dedication to therapy is key: some patients are tempted to give up and stop treatment, but continuous care is what helps you avoid needing surgery. The goal is simple: get you back to your normal activities, as active and functional as possible.