What Physical Therapy Can Do For Your Carpal Tunnel Give Yourself a Hand
At the three-, six-, and 12-month marks, both groups reported an overall improved state at equal rates.
If you can barely clutch your coffee mug, shoot off an email, or press a button without tingling, numbness, or weakness zipping through your hand or wrist, you may be living with carpal tunnel syndrome. The pain and limited movement caused by carpal tunnel can be exhausting and troublesome, and the numerous treatments available can still leave a patient suffering. Braces, therapy, and surgeries all promise healing options, but what’s the best choice? Turns out, it just might be your body’s strength. Researchers are discovering that physical therapy might be the easiest, safest, and most effective option to treat carpal tunnel syndrome. According to a study published in the March 2017 Journal of Orthopedic & Sports Physical Therapy, participating in physical therapy was found to be just as effective as surgery at mitigating the effects of carpal tunnel syndrome. The study followed 50 women who took part in manual physical therapy, where the therapist only used their hands for each 30-minute session. Another 50 women underwent surgery for their carpal tunnel.
On the surface, the study’s focus on women appears to be a downfall. However, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), women are three times more likely to be diagnosed with carpal tunnel than men. Further studies should be conducted with men, but this is promising for those looking to work through pain and gain strength without going under the knife. If this seems too good to be true, consider this: According to an article by WebMD highlighting this study, carpal tunnel surgery fails for 25 percent of patients, and half of those people must undergo surgery again. Try physical therapy to bypass expensive and potentially dangerous surgery options. Even if it doesn’t work for you, therapy will make your body stronger for other treatment options. Surgery should be a last resort, not the premier choice for pain relief.
Learn how NJIB can help you with your carpal tunnel pain by visiting www.njib.org .
After one month, the women who opted for the therapy reported better wrist and hand function compared to those who had undergone surgery.
Roasted Delicata Squash With Almonds
HAVE A LAUGH!
Ingredients
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3 delicata squash (about 1 pound each), halved and seeded 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 1/4 teaspoon Aleppo pepper or smoked paprika Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
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1/4 cup roasted almonds, preferably Marcona, coarsely chopped
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1 teaspoon agave nectar
Chopped fresh chives, to garnish
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Directions
1. Heat an oven to 350 F. 2. On a workspace, brush cut sides of squash with olive oil and season cavity with salt, pepper, and Aleppo or paprika. 3. Place squash cut-side down on a baking sheet and roast for 45 minutes. 4. Remove squash from oven, let cool for 5 minutes, and top with crushed almonds, chives, and a drizzle of oil and agave nectar. 5. Serve immediately.
3 www.NJIB.org
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