Dr. Holland sees a lot of patients troubled with carpal tunnel syndrome in our busy Downtown St. Louis, MO chiropractic clinic. While some people think that the source of this wrist-related pain is muscular, it's actually a condition that arises from the nerves--and not just the nerves in your hands.
A recent study published 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 authors found that the women had reduced cervical mobility when compared to a healthy control group.
Furthermore, it was also discovered that the level of the women's reported carpal tunnel discomfort was connected to the lateral flexion of the cervical spine. In other words, the less range of motion in the neck, the higher the level of pain.
This research is extremely important, as you can't successfully resolve a condition until you fully understand its source. By understanding that the root of carpal tunnel pain is in the neck, this means that natural approaches such as chiropractic adjustments can often restore normal function, eliminating the need for risky surgical procedures.
If you have carpal tunnel issues, call our Downtown St. Louis, MO location and ask how Dr. Holland can help you get relief!
References
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.