Dr. Ramsey sees a lot of people troubled with carpal tunnel syndrome in our busy Gresham chiropractic practice. While some people think that the source of this wrist-related pain is muscular, it's actually a syndrome that arises from the nerves--and not just the nerves in your hands.
A recent study published 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 less cervical flexibility when compared to a healthy control group.
Furthermore, it was also found that the degree 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 greater the level of pain.
This study is very important, as you can't successfully address a problem until you fully understand its source. By recognizing that the root of carpal tunnel issues is in the neck, this means that natural approaches such as chiropractic can often restore normal function, reducing the need for risky operations.
If you are suffering from carpal tunnel pain, call our Gresham office and ask how Dr. Ramsey can help you get relief!
Studies
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.