Do your hands, wrists, or forearms ache on a daily basis? Are your daily activities, such as typing or lifting, harsh on those areas? Do you tend to feel painful stings with arm, hand, or wrist movement? If so, you may be suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome.
Health & Fitness The Newsletter About Your Health And Caring For Your Body
Combat Carpal Tunnel Syndrome with Physical Therapy
INSIDE:
• Surgery V.S. Physical Therapy • Tips For Better Heart Health
• Patient Success Spotlight • Relieve Pain In Minutes
Do your hands, wrists, or forearms ache on a daily basis? Are your daily activities, such as typing or lifting, harsh on those areas? Do you tend to feel painful stings with arm, hand, or wrist movement? If so, you may be suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome. Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition that can cause numbness, stiffness, or pain that can radiate through your fingers, hands, wrists, or forearms. This happens when too much pressure is put on your median nerve, located at the base of your palm. Your carpal tunnel is a narrow channel, about the width of your thumb, located on your wrist under the palm. It protects the median nerve, as well as the tendons you use to bend your fingers. When excessive pressure is put on the median nerve, it causes crowding and irritation of the carpal tunnel, making it difficult for it to do its job. This, eventually, is what leads to carpal tunnel syndrome.
Many people will correct this condition with surgery; however, physical therapy has been proven to be just as successful in some cases (if not more so!) At South Valley Physical Therapy, we will safely and comfortably treat your carpal tunnel symptoms. For more information, call our office today. Essentially, any excessive use of the fingers, wrists, hands, or forearms can cause carpal tunnel syndrome. It is a very common condition, affecting approximately 1 out of every 20 Americans, and accounting for almost 50% of all work-related injuries. Assembly- line work is the most common source of carpal tunnel syndrome, although those who perform jobs demanding extensive use of hand tools, keyboards, or the operation of heavy machinery are also at risk for developing carpal tunnel syndrome. Certain What causes carpal tunnel syndrome?
leisure activities have also been known to lead to this condition, such as sewing, playing string instruments, or participating in sports involving racquets. Some health conditions can also lead to carpal tunnel syndrome, such as: • Previous injury to the wrist, including strains, sprains, dislocations, and fractures.
• Fluid retention, typically during pregnancy.
• Use of medication, typically steroids.
• Hormone or metabolic changes, including thyroid imbalances, pregnancy, and menopause.
• Degenerative and rheumatoid arthritis.
• Diabetes.
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Try these movements if you are experiencing pain. Relieve Pain In Minutes
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WR I ST E XT ENS I ON STR E TCH Rest your forearm on a surface for support so that your wrist hangs over the edge. Hold your palm and knuckles with your other hand and relax the tips of your fingers. Gently bend the wrist of the grasped hand upwards using your other hand. Your fingers can remain bent while doing so. Hold for 20 seconds and repeat 3 times.
THUMB I P E XT ENS I ON STR E TCH Grasp the affected thumb below the last knuckle and gently stretch it into a more straightened position. Hold for 20 seconds and repeat 3 times.
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Always consult your physical therapist or physician before starting exercises you are unsure of doing.
Does Your Friend or Family Member Need Physical Therapy? Tell Them to Check Us Out!
Do You Have Friends Or Family Unable To Do The Following? • Climb stairs without pain • Bend and move freely
If you know someone suffering with aches and pains give the gift of health. Refer them to South Valley Physical Therapy today. Pass along this newsletter or have them call us directly for a Pain Relief Consultation.
CALL TODAY! 408-365-8400 Fax: 408-365-8417
• Balance confidently and securely • Sit for long periods comfortably • Walk for long distances • Live an active and healthy lifestyle
Surgery V.S. Physical Therapy
In some severe cases, surgery may be a necessary step in the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome. However, in most cases, physical therapy alone is enough to treat the condition completely. In a study titled, “Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Physical Therapy or Surgery?” published in the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, that theory was thoroughly tested. Based on the known side effects and risks associated with surgery, in addition to the knowledge that over 1/3 of patients are unable to return to work within 8 weeks after receiving their operation, researchers decided to test whether physical therapy treatments could be used in replacement of surgical procedures. The results were overwhelmingly positive. 100 patients with carpal tunnel syndrome were studied; 50 had received surgery, and 50 had received physical therapy alone. The physical therapy patients were treated with manual therapy techniques, focusing on the neck and median nerve, in addition to stretching exercises given by their physical therapists. After one month, the physical therapy patients had much better function during their daily activities than the surgery patients, and demonstrated stronger grip strength overall. At 3, 6, and 12 months, patients in both groups showed similar improvements with function and grip strength. How we can help: The study above proves that physical therapy works just as well, if not better, than surgery. With every surgery there are risks involved, not to mention the overwhelming expense and recovery time that comes along with it. Physical therapy is a safer, healthier, and more comfortable option for those experiencing carpal tunnel syndrome. At South Valley Physical Therapy, we will employ similar manual therapy techniques to help treat your condition, in addition to any other
treatments that your physical therapist deems fit after your evaluation. We will work closely with your primary care provider, in order to discover the best course of treatment for your specific needs. South Valley Physical Therapy is dedicated toward helping you achieve a pain- free life, with the least amount of discomfort possible. Why opt for surgery when there is another option that can help you return to the activities you need to much faster? Call our office today to schedule your initial consultation, and get started on your journey toward better health, pain relief, and overall contentment. Exercises you can do at home: • Spiders doing pushups: Begin with your hands clasped together in prayer position. Then spread your fingers apart as far as they can go. Next, create a triangle shape by separating your palms, but keeping your fingers together still. • Shake it off: Shake out your hands, as if you have just washed them and you’re trying to air dry them. • Deep wrist stretch: Begin with your arm stretched straight in front of you, elbow locked, and fingers pointing downward. Spread your fingers slightly and use your other hand to press down and apply gentle pressure to your wrist and fingers, slowly pushing them as far as they’ll go. When you’ve reached maximum flexibility, hold this position for 20 seconds. When you’re finished, repeat with your other hand. Sources: https://www.jospt.org/doi/full/10.2519/jospt.2017.0503 https://www. moveforwardpt.com/SymptomsConditionsDetail.aspx?cid=9f3cdf74-3f6f-40ca- b641-d559302a08fc https://www.healthline.com/health/carpal-tunnel-wrist- exercises#stretch-armstrong
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This Year Will Have a Hawaiian Theme The Offices of Councilmember Johnny Khamis, Councilmember Pam Foley, and Councilmember Sergio Jimenez present the 13th Annual Senior Winter Walk and Resource Fair! Friday, February 21, 2020 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Westfield Oakridge Mall – Macy’s Court 925 Blossom Hill Road, San Jose, CA 95123 Event Schedule: BREAK OUT THOSE LUAU SHIRTS & MUUMUUS!
Practice News
8:00 – 8:30 AM Welcome/Warm Up 8:30 ‐ 9:00 AM Walk & Resource Fair 9:00 – 9:45 AM Prize Drawing
• Track weight loss • Track muscle mass gains/losses • Measure caloric intake levels Only $25 Full Body Composition Analysis GET THE INFORMATION YOU NEED TO FEEL AND LOOK YOUR BEST!
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For scheduling and pricing questions please email patientrep@svpt.net
We want to not only help our patients, but we love to give back to our community. Discover our events, recipes and goings on.
Patient Referral Program Do you want to take advantage of our Patient Referral Program but don’t have a card handy? Just clip this card from the newsletter, add YOUR name and phone number and give it to a friend or family member. For every new patient you refer we will give you your choice of a gift card to the movies (good for 2 admissions), $20.00 for coffee or tea at Peet’s or a $25.00 gift card for Le Boulanger. Remember--each patient you refer must bring in a referral card and be a NEW patient to the clinic. South Valley Physical Therapy Would Like To Say Thank You! Thank You!
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Name: Phone:
For scheduling and pricing questions please email patientrep@svpt.net
Tips For Better Heart Health 1. Aim for lucky number seven. Young and middle-age adults who sleep 7 hours a night have less calcium in their arteries (an early sign of heart disease) than those who sleep 5 hours or less or those who sleep 9 hours or more. 7. Ditch the cigarettes, real and electronic. Smoking and secondhand smoke are bad for your heart. If you smoke, quit, and don’t spend time around others who smoke as well.
E-cigarettes are popular, but they’re not completely problem-free. They don’t contain the harmful chemicals in cigarette smoke but, they still do contain nicotine, so your goal should be to quit completely, not just switch to a less toxic version. 8. Clean up. Your heart works best when it runs on clean fuel. That means lots of whole, plant-based foods (like fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds) and fewer refined or processed foods (like white bread, pasta, crackers, and cookies).
2. Keep the pressure off. Get your blood pressure checked every 3-5 years if you’re 18-39. If you’re 40 or older, or if you have high blood pressure, check it every year. 3. Move more. To keep it simple, you can aim for 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week of moderate exercise. Even if you exercise for 30 minutes a day, being sedentary for the other 23 1/2 hours is really bad for your heart. 4. Slash saturated fats. To help your heart’s arteries, cut down on saturated fats, which are mainly found in meat and full-fat dairy products. Choose leaner cuts and reduced-fat options. 5. Find out if you have diabetes. Millions of people don’t know that they have this condition. That’s risky because over time, high blood sugar damages arteries and makes heart disease more likely. 6. Think beyond the scale. Ask your doctor if your weight is OK. If you have some pounds to lose, you’ll probably want to change your eating habits and be more active.
841 Blossom Hill Road, Suite 103 San Jose, CA 95123
CALL TODAY! 408-365-8400 Fax: 408-365-8417
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Thomas Sawhill, P.T. Physical Therapist, CEO
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