Dr. Ramsey sees a lot of patients struggling with carpal tunnel syndrome in our busy Gresham, OR chiropractic office. While some people think that the origin of this wrist-related pain is muscular, it's actually a condition that arises from the nerves--and not just the nerves in your hands.
Recent research published in the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy evaluated 71 women between the ages of 35 and 59 who were diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome. Upon investigating the subjects' neck range of motion, the doctors found that the patients had less cervical flexibility when compared to a healthy control group.
In addition, they also observed that the degree of the women's reported carpal tunnel discomfort was related to the lateral flexion of the cervical spine. In short, the less mobility in the neck, the greater the level of pain.
This research is very important, as you can't effectively address a condition until you fully understand its source. By realizing that the root of carpal tunnel issues is in the neck, this means that all-natural approaches like chiropractic can often restore normal function, reducing the need for risky surgery.
If you are suffering from carpal tunnel pain, call our Gresham, OR office and ask how Dr. Ramsey can help you get relief!
Research 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.