What is carpal tunnel syndrome?
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) occurs when the median nerve passing through the wrist is pinched or compressed, causing a progressively painful condition. The carpal tunnel is a narrow passageway linking your arm to your hand in which nine tendons and the median nerve are surrounded by an inflexible bony bracelet. The carpal tunnel is comprised of the carpal bones and the transverse carpal ligament.

What causes carpal tunnel syndrome?
The most commonly accepted explanation is that CTS is caused by a combination of events or situations. Some people have smaller carpal tunnels and are therefore more likely to have pressure on the median nerve. Injury to the wrist from a sprain or fracture can cause swelling in the carpal tunnel, resulting in compression of the nerve. Other factors, such as arthritis, thyroid disease, diabetes, pregnancy, repeated use of vibratory tools (e.g. jackhammer or drill) or prolonged extreme bending of the wrist can all result in nerve irritation, causing CTS.

What are the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome?
Many people report waking up with numbness in their thumb, index, middle and part of their ring fingers on the palm side of their hand. Others report an ache or sharp pains in their hand, wrist or forearm. Patients may feel clumsy and drop things, or have problems with fine motor tasks, such as buttoning a shirt or picking up coins. A weakened grip or pinch from prolonged CTS may cause problems when turning a key or opening a jar.

How can a hand therapist help treat carpal tunnel syndrome?
A hand therapist can help reduce the symptoms of CTS by first performing a complete evaluation to determine the main cause of the problem. He or she might recommend wearing a brace at night to keep the wrist in a safe position, or during the day for activities that might irritate the nerve. A hand therapist can provide patient education and recommendations for modifications to reduce symptoms during activities of daily living, work tasks and recreational activities. A hand therapist may also prescribe specific exercises to help in the recovery or prevention of future CTS occurrences.

Todd Brown, PT, CHT