Dr. Michael Delson sees a lot of people struggling with carpal tunnel syndrome in our busy Springfield, MA chiropractic practice. While some people think that the source of this wrist-related pain is muscular, it's actually a condition 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 studying the subjects' neck range of motion, the authors discovered that the women had reduced cervical flexibility when compared to a healthy control group.
In addition, it was also discovered that the level of the women's reported carpal tunnel discomfort was linked to the lateral flexion of the cervical spine. In other words, the less flexibility in the neck, the higher the level of pain.
This study is very important, as you can't successfully treat a problem until you fully understand its cause. By realizing that the root of carpal tunnel pain is in the neck, this means that natural approaches like chiropractic can often restore normal function, reducing the need for risky surgical procedures.
If you have carpal tunnel pain, call our Springfield, MA office and ask how Dr. Michael Delson 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.