I was reading about carpal tunnel syndrome on page 306 of the course text.However it did not elaborate on how to train for this.Can you give me some pointers?
BJ, good afternoon and welcome back to the Board. With regard to your question, consider the following. As you are learning in your course, carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when tendons or ligaments in the wrist become enlarged, often from inflammation, after being aggravated. The narrowed tunnel of bones and ligaments in the wrist pinches the nerves that reach the fingers and the muscles at the base of the thumb. Symptoms range from a burning, tingling numbness in the fingers, especially the thumb and the index and middle fingers, to difficulty gripping or making a fist, to dropping things. Some cases of carpal tunnel syndrome are due to work-related cumulative trauma of the wrist. It is critical to begin treating early phases of CTS before the damage progresses. If possible the person should avoid activities at work or home that may aggravate the condition. The affected hand and wrist should be rested for at least two weeks; this allows the swollen, inflamed tissues to shrink and relieves pressure on the median nerve. Ice may provide relief. A supervised hand and wrist strengthening exercise program (see this web page http://www.thehealthpages.com/articles/ar-carpl.html) may be beneficial. It has been found that most people with CTS felt improvement after two months of physical therapy. NSAIDs (Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) are commonly used to treat CTS. Available over the counter or by prescription, they fight inflammation or swelling and relieve pain. Some studies have also found that an increase in Vitamin B6 consumption also helps to reduce symptoms.
We hope this helps. Take care and have a great Friday and upcoming weekend.
