Does Chiropractic Care Help with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Can Chiropractic Care Relieve Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Struggling with pain, numbness, or tingling in your hands and wrists? Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) can make even simple daily tasks a challenge. While many people turn to medications, wrist braces, or even surgery, chiropractic care offers a natural, non-invasive alternative that targets the root cause of your discomfort.
What Is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, and Why Does It Happen?
The carpal tunnel is a narrow passageway formed by the small bones in your wrist. This tunnel houses the median nerve, which runs from your neck, through your arm, and into your hand. The median nerve plays a crucial role in the sensation and movement of your wrist, hand, thumb, and the first three fingers.
When surrounding tissues swell or become inflamed, the tunnel narrows, putting pressure on the median nerve. This compression is what triggers carpal tunnel syndrome and its frustrating symptoms.
Common Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Include:
- Pain: Discomfort may be concentrated in the wrist and hand but can radiate up the arm. Some people report sharp, electric-shock-like jolts, especially at night.
- Tingling & Numbness: A “pins and needles” sensation often affects the hand, fingers, wrist, and sometimes the forearm.
- Weakness: Difficulty gripping or holding objects is a common sign of CTS, often resulting in dropped items.
Who’s at Risk?
CTS is more common in women and older adults, but other risk factors include:
- Repetitive hand and wrist movements (e.g., typing, hairdressing, cooking, sewing, tool use)
- Poor wrist ergonomics or prolonged awkward hand positions
- Health conditions such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, or pregnancy
- A family history of carpal tunnel syndrome
How Can Chiropractic Care Help Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Chiropractic care focuses on improving the function of your musculoskeletal and nervous systems to relieve pain and restore mobility. Here’s how chiropractors may address carpal tunnel syndrome:
- Spinal Adjustments
Misalignments (subluxations) in the neck can irritate nerves traveling down the arm, contributing to CTS symptoms. Gentle spinal manipulations realign the vertebrae, helping to reduce nerve pressure, inflammation, and pain.
- Wrist & Elbow Joint Mobilization
Sometimes the issue isn’t just in your spine. Chiropractors may also adjust misaligned joints in the wrist or elbow, helping to free up trapped nerves and improve joint mobility.
- Soft Tissue Therapy
Manual therapies such as myofascial release or trigger point therapy help relax tight muscles and fascia in the forearm, wrist, and hand. This reduces inflammation, improves circulation, and relieves nerve compression.
- Complementary Therapies
Chiropractors may integrate additional therapies, including:
- Ultrasound therapy to promote healing at a cellular level
- Hot and cold therapy to reduce inflammation and manage pain
- Rehabilitation exercises to strengthen and stretch the muscles of the wrist, hand, and forearm, preventing future flare-ups
What Does the Research Say About Chiropractic Treatment for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Clinical studies support the effectiveness of chiropractic care for CTS:
- A 2019 study published in Clinical Rehabilitation found that manual therapy significantly improved nerve conduction, reduced pain, and enhanced overall function in people with carpal tunnel syndrome.
- A 2018 study in Clinical Biomechanics revealed that manual mobilization of the carpal tunnel bones increased tunnel space and reduced nerve compression, offering a potential relief mechanism for CTS symptoms.
Ready to Find Lasting Relief?
If you’re tired of living with wrist pain, numbness, or hand weakness, chiropractic care could be the natural, drug-free solution you’ve been searching for. By addressing both the symptoms and the underlying causes of carpal tunnel syndrome, chiropractic treatments offer a holistic path to healing.
Contact us today to schedule your consultation and start your journey toward relief!
Sources:
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, 3/2022
https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases–conditions/carpal-tunnel-syndrome/
Clinical Rehabilitation: Is Manual Therapy Based on Neurodynamic Techniques Effective in the Treatment of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome? A Randomized Controlled Trial, 3/2019
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30306805/
PubMed: Clinical Biomechanics: Dimensional Changes of the Carpal Tunnel and Median Nerve During Manual Mobilization of the Carpal Bones – Anatomical Study, 9/3/2018
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30195102/
MedlinePlus: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, 1/10/2024