Dr. Blake sees a lot of patients troubled with carpal tunnel syndrome in our busy Harrisburg chiropractic office. While some people think that the origin of this wrist-related pain is muscular, it's actually a syndrome that stems 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 investigating the subjects' neck range of motion, the researchers found that the women had reduced cervical mobility when compared to a healthy control group.
In addition, it was 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 flexibility in the neck, the higher the level of pain.
This study is very important, as you can't successfully address a condition until you fully understand its cause. By recognizing that the root of carpal tunnel pain 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 have carpal tunnel pain, call our Harrisburg office and ask how Dr. Blake can help you get relief!
Sources
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.