Dr. Holland sees a lot of patients struggling with carpal tunnel syndrome in our busy Downtown St. Louis, MO chiropractic office. While some people think that the source of this wrist-related pain is muscular, it's actually a syndrome that stems from the nerves--and not just the nerves in your hands.
Recent research printed 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 doctors discovered that the women had less cervical mobility when compared to a healthy control group.
Furthermore, it was also discovered that the degree of the women's reported carpal tunnel discomfort was related to the lateral flexion of the cervical spine. In other words, the less mobility in the neck, the higher the level of pain.
This study is very important, as you cannot effectively treat a condition until you fully understand its cause. By understanding that the root of carpal tunnel issues is in the neck, this means that all-natural approaches such as chiropractic can often restore normal function, eliminating the need for risky operations.
If you suffer with carpal tunnel pain, call our Downtown St. Louis, MO location and ask how Dr. Holland can help you get relief!
Resources
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.