Davenport Chiropractor, Dr. Clay, has prepared a short slide show presentation on some causes of carpal tunnel syndrome and the treatments for it. For more information, please visit http://familycarechiropracticdavenport.com
2. Carpal Tunnel (An Overview)
Where is the Carpal Tunnel?
The Carpal Tunnel is in your
wrist.
It is made up of the carpal
bones and the flexor
retinaculum (transverse
carpal ligament).
Pneumonic for carpal bones
Some Lover’s Try Positions
That They Can’t HandleCarpal Bones
4. What Is In The Carpal Tunnel?
The median nerve which
is the nerve supply for
the palm side of your
hand.
The flexor tendons of the
muscles that flex your
wrist, hand, and fingers.
Sometimes, arteries and
veins that supply the
hand.
5. Some Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel
Syndrome
Numbness, tingling, and/or pain in the
thumb, pointer finger, middle finger, and half of
the ring finger.
Usually no pain in the palm, sensory nerve given
off before entering the carpal tunnel
Weakness or clumsiness in gripping
Atrophy of the thenar eminence
Pain in the wrist, forearm, elbow, or shoulder.
Fingers turning purple
Symptoms can be relieved temporarily by shaking
the hands, putting in hot water, or resting them.
6. Some Tests to Check for Carpal
Tunnel Syndrome
Tinel’s sign: Involves
tapping over the carpal
tunnel to elicit
numbness or tingling in
the fingers(between
60%-80% effective)
Phalen’s test: Pressing
the backs of the hands
together to elicit
symptoms (between
49%-64% effective)
Reverse Phalen’s:
Pressing the palms of the
hands together (between
49%-64% effective)
Pressure Provocative
Test: Putting direct
pressure over the carpal
tunnel to elicit
symptoms (100%
effective)
7. Causes of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Women are actually 3
times more likely to have
symptoms of carpal tunnel
syndrome.
Most often a result of a
person’s occupation.
Activities requiring
continual use of the hands
Repetitive motions using
force
Prolonged flexion or
extension of the wrist
Gripping
Pressure over the palm
Trauma
Fractures
Vibration
Examples: data-entry, meat
cutters, assembly, construc
tion workers, and
musicians
8. How Do These Activities Cause
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Excess or strained
movement, such as
typing, mouse
use, assembly line
movements.
Micro-bruises can form
along these tendons if
overused and as they
heal, scar tissue can form.
Scar tissue forms in an
attempt to help stabilize an
area.
9. How Do These Activities Cause
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome? (cont)
Scar tissue will connect
structures together, such
as tendons, in order to
give them stability
The median nerve can
also become entrapped
when scar tissue forms
This restricts the normal
movement of the nerve
in the carpal tunnel
This results in more
pulling and tugging on
the nerve, which causes
inflammation.
Inflammation irritates
the nerve and can also
draw fluid to the
area, causing swelling.
Scar tissue formation can
also cause the nerve to
be compressed
10. What Else Could It Be?
C6 or C7 nerve root
lesion (Subluxation)
Disc disease of the
cervical spine
Pronator Teres
Syndrome
Cubital Tunnel
Syndrome
Tunnel of Guyon
Syndrome
Radial Tunnel Syndrome
Posterior Interosseous
Nerve Syndrome
Carpal Subluxation
11. C6 or C7 Nerve Root Lesion(Subluxation) &
Cervical Discogenic Disease
Subluxation of either the
C6 or C7 vertebra can
cause inflammation at
the nerve root, which
can cause neuropathy in
the median nerve
Will often have radiating
pain down the
arm, which may be
relieved by distraction of
the cervical vertebrae C6/C7
foramen
C6
C7
12. Pronator Teres Syndrome
The median nerve is
compressed before it
reaches the carpal tunnel
in between the two
heads of the pronator
teres.
Pain when pronating
flexed wrist against
resistance.
Sensations in the palm
may be reduced.
13. Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
The ulnar nerve becomes
trapped on the medial
side of the elbow.
This can cause pain and
sensory deficits in the
ulnar nerve distribution
of the hand.
The medial half of the
palm and 5th and the
medial half of the 4th
digit.
14. Tunnel of Guyon Syndrome
Tunnel where ulnar
nerve and artery cross
the wrist into the hand.
Hypothenar wasting and
sensory deficits in the
highlighted area.
May also be the artery
becoming compressed
and causing sensory
losses.
15. Radial Tunnel Syndrome
Entrapment of the radial
nerve in the lateral
aspect of the elbow.
Pain with elbow flexion
of elbow and pronation
of wrist.
Radial nerve supplies the
posterior aspect of the
hand and extensor
musculature of the
forearm.
16. Posterior Interosseous Nerve
Syndrome
Entrapment of the motor
branch of the radial
nerve.
Wrist extension will be
weak.
Pain with forceful wrist
extension.
17. How Do You Treat It?
Chiropractic
adjustments if the main
cause is cervical
degenerative disease or
subluxation.
Chiropractic
adjustments of the
shoulder, elbow, or wrist
if there is a subluxation
of these areas.
Myofascial release if the
cause is muscular or
connective tissue in
nature.
Anti-inflammatory
medication to reduce
swelling and
inflammation.
Surgery as a last option
to relieve pressure in the
carpal tunnel.
18. Have Questions? Just Call or Send
an E-mail
516 W. 35th St.
Davenport, IA 52806
Phone: 563-388-6364
E-mail: drclay@familycarechiropracticdavenport.com
familycarechiropracticdavenport.com
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Twitter: @Davenportchiro