Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, surgery not required.

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a devastating injury that affects more than 8 million people in the United States and continues to increase each and every year.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is one of many repetitive strain injuries (RSI's) that are everywhere; homes, offices, assembly lines, grocery stores, book clubs, construction sites, dental offices, everywhere! Because carpal tunnel syndrome is so commonplace, and its effects so devastating, it is important to be knowledgeable of how it occurs, what its symptoms are, the testing methods used and what treatment options are available, as the prevention of any injury, especially carpal tunnel, begins with education.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a disorder affecting the median nerve, which supplies function to the thumb, index, middle and one half of the ring finger. Usually the symptoms are most prevalent in the thumb, index and middle fingers (Sometimes one-half of the ring finger) and include numbness, tingling, paresthesia (pins and needles), pain and tightness in the front of the hand, wrist and forearm. These symptoms do not have to occur simultaneously, and may only affect one finger one day and then three fingers a few days later.

If a doctor provides a carpal tunnel diagnoses and the symptoms are in the ring and little fingers, it is NOT carpal tunnel syndrome! The ulnar nerve, not the median nerve, supplies function to the ring and little finger.

Repetitive strain disorders affecting these two fingers are usually either Guyon's syndrome, entrapment of the ulnar nerve in the guyon's canal at the wrist junction, or cubital tunnel syndrome, entrapment of the ulnar nerve at the elbow junction.

This is a common mistake made by many, many physicians and is completely inexcusable as they often recommend surgery for the patient, causing the patient to undergo an unnecessary procedure, and what makes it worse, for the wrong disorder!

Protect yourself, your car and your family with the very best insurance you can afford: Click on Health * Dental * Life * Auto * Long Term Care * Home * or Other -- and See if insurance roundup can't save you $100 or more this year on every kind of insurance protection you need. Are you Self-Employed, or maybe you want to be? Click HERE for a complete article on how, and where you might get the health insurance coverage you need.

If symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome do arise, doctors will recommend that a nerve conduction velocity (NCV) test or an Electromoyogram (EMG) be performed to see if carpal tunnel syndrome truly exists. These tests are often painful to the individual being tested, very expensive, and often give false positives and false negatives. This is why it is recommended that manual carpal tunnel tests be performed in order to obtain a more accurate (and much cheaper) diagnosis. Manual carpal tunnel tests take no longer than 10 minutes, have a high accuracy rate, are painless and are very cheap in comparison to the NCV and EMG tests.

The recommended manual carpal tunnel tests consist of the following:

· Phalen’s Test: The wrist is flexed for 30 to 60 seconds in order to compress the median nerve and duplicate/increase the symptoms.

· Reverse Phalen’s Test: The wrist is extended for 30 to 60 seconds in order to stretch the median nerve and duplicate/increase the symptoms. Stretching the median nerve if it is already impinged will duplicate/increase the symptoms if a patient has carpal tunnel syndrome.

· Tinnel Sign: Tapping directly over the median nerve at the wrist junction will cause carpal tunnel symptoms to exhibit themselves.

· Compression Test: Direct pressure is applied over the location of the median nerve for 30-60 seconds to see if carpal tunnel symptoms are exhibited.

If a positive diagnosis comes back, most doctors will push for surgery, a procedure that has a terrible success rate and is to only be performed as a last resort once all other conservative treatment methods have been utilized. Conservative therapy is the key to successfully recovering from carpal tunnel syndrome and obtaining not only short-term but long-term relief as well. The following is a list of conservative treatments that should be utilized in order to help prevent carpal tunnel syndrome from developing, but also rehabilitating carpal tunnel syndrome after it is already present.

· Ergonomics: Utilize proper ergonomic tools and equipment when working.

· Breaks: Take short breaks every 30 minutes when working in order to help reduce excessive strain on the hands.

· Stretches: Stretch the muscles that ‘close’ the hands as these are the muscles that are exercised all day long in activities such as typing, writing, gripping a steering wheel, using a computer mouse, carrying groceries and everything else that is done day in and day out. When a muscle is involved in exercise, it becomes shorter, therefore it needs to be stretched and lengthened both during and after the exercises are completed. (End of day)

· Exercises: Exercise and strengthen the muscles that are used to ‘open’ the hands, as these muscles do not receive much direct stimuli / exercise. (i.e. People do not turn doorknobs, hold things, type, use a computer mouse or lift things with the backs of their hands.)

The information provided above reveals how carpal tunnel syndrome occurs, what its symptoms are, the testing methods most commonly used and the best conservative treatment options that are used to thwart its existence.

It is very important for individuals to become well acquainted with the proper information and tools in order to maintain and increase their level of health and productivity. It is also important for people to speak to their doctors regarding their health concerns, and if someone is involved in an occupation that is considered high-risk for carpal tunnel, they should discuss this with their physician, but is even more critical that people become self educated as no one can take care of you better than “YOU”!

About the Author: Jeff P. Anliker, LMT, is a Therapist and Inventor of Therapeutic Exercise Products that are utilized by Corporations, Consumers and Medical Facilities around the world. Balance Systems, Inc.

Carpal tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is one of many musculoskeletal injuries listed under the broader terms of Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) or Cumulative Trauma Disorder (CTD). A number of other injuries listed under these terms, but that are not exclusively caused by a repetitive strain injury or cumulative trauma disorder include Guyon's Syndrome, Tendonitis, Cubital Tunnel Syndrome, Medial and Lateral Epicondylitis and Trigger Finger.

Most people will do anything they can to steer far clear of situations that may take a violent turn. But there is always the chance that violent behavior can erupt -- uninvited and unexpected. What can you do then to protect yourself from danger?

Carpal tunnel syndrome and other repetitive strain injuries are caused by excessive overuse of a muscle or group of muscles in a unidirectional movement pattern.

Examples would include typing, wringing a washcloth and using a computer mouse. All of the movement patterns involve motion against resistance in one direction flexion. This one-way motion does not actually have to involve ?repetitive? movements as the term ?repetitive strain injury? implies, as it is just as common for an individual to become afflicted with a repetitive strain injury while performing activities that involve no movement of the hands at all. Examples of this would include holding onto a steering wheel, gripping a pen or a tool such as a hammer all day. With these types of activities, no repetitive type motion is involved at all, but instead, 'static flexion' is utilized, which involves the overuse of these muscles, but in a manner that is stationary.

Since Repetitive strain injuries are most often caused by unidirectional patterns, the best way to counteract each specific overused motion is the implementation of an exercise program that involves the implementation of resistance exercises to the opposing muscle or group of muscles that is being overused.

An example training program for carpal tunnel syndrome would include resistance exercises for the muscles that open (extension) the hands in order to counteract the overuse of the muscles that close the hands (flexion). This principal of 'balancing' muscles groups so that there is a more natural equality of strength between muscles that surround a specific joint, whether it is the wrist, elbow, shoulder or neck, is basic common sense and integrated into training programs by the top practitioners and therapists in the industry today.

Here are a few examples of practitioner responses regarding the implementation of restoring balance between muscle groups in order to prevent and rehabilitate repetitive strain injuries including Carpal tunnel syndrome.

"Muscle balance must be restored with specific exercises. Otherwise, the already strong and overused muscles get stronger, and the weak and underused muscles remain weak. Individuals get good at using the overused muscles and must be trained specifically to recruit and strengthen the weak underused muscles." Philip E. Higgs, M.D. and Susan E. Mackinnon, M.D. Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri. Annu. Rev. Med. 1995. 46:1-16

"If certain muscle groups are underused, opposing muscle groups will be overused. Muscles in either a lengthened or shortened position will be at a mechanical disadvantage and weak. The overused group will hypertrophy, and the underused group will continue to be weak. This combination produces a self perpetuating condition that maintains the abnormal posture and muscle imbalance." Philip E. Higgs, M.D. and Susan E. Mackinnon, M.D. Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri. Annu. Rev. Med. 1995. 46:1-16

A strong example of how important it is to properly balance muscle groups is seen in the following statement regarding the balancing of the in the hands and forearms.

"All of the extrinsic hand muscles become involved in a power grip, in proportion to the strength of the grip."........ "Strong agonist-antagonist interactions are needed between the flexors and extensors of the hand and fingers to produce forceful hand-grip. Powerful flexion of the distal phalanges requires strong activity also of the finger extensors." Janet G. Travell, M.D. and David G. Simons, M.D. Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction-The Trigger Point Manual. Volume1 Upper Extremities, Ch:35, pg. 501. Copyright 1983.

Performing corrective exercises in order to prevent and rehabilitate carpal tunnel syndrome and repetitive strain injuries is of the utmost importance. In 95% of most cases, there is no need for invasive techniques like cortisone injections or surgery in order to eliminate carpal tunnel or other repetitive strain injuries. It is one thing if you have an actual structural anomaly that needs to be corrected, but since most cases of carpal tunnel and repetitive strain injury occur in later years, it is quite obvious that a physical anomaly does not exist as this would be experienced by the individual in their younger years. Instead a structural or joint imbalance exists that has developed due to long-term overuse, or sudden trauma due to overuse, and is a result of overly strong muscles pulling one direction while the opposing weak muscles try unsuccessfully to counteract and pull the other direction.

Muscle imbalances can be corrected with simple exercises. By performing a sensible, active stretch / exercise program that focuses on keeping muscles balanced, individuals can stay healthy and symptom-free!

NOTE: Be sure to be aware of any pain that is experienced 'while' performing stretches or exercises. If pain is experienced while performing any particular motion, stop immediately. Post exercise soreness is normal. Always be sure to consult a physician before beginning any stretch / exercise program.

About The Author: Jeff P. Anliker, LMT, is a Therapist and Inventor of Therapeutic Exercise Products that are utilized by Corporations, Consumers and Medical Facilities around the world. Balance Systems, Inc.http://www.repetitive-strain.com

NOW is the time to share this information with every neighbor and form a neighborhood group that can help each other. Anarchy and riots could break out and law enforcement agencies may be operating sporadically if at all as we have witnessed in New Orleans.