Dr. Scharf sees a lot of patients struggling with carpal tunnel syndrome in our busy Parkland, FL chiropractic practice. While some people think that the source of this wrist-related pain is muscular, it's actually a condition that stems from the nerves--and not just the nerves in your hands.
A recent study 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 authors found that the women had less cervical mobility when compared to a healthy control group.
In addition, it was also observed 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 study 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 issues is in the neck, this means that natural approaches such as chiropractic can often restore normal function, eliminating the need for risky operations.
If you are suffering from carpal tunnel pain, call our Parkland, FL location and ask how Dr. Scharf can help you get relief!
Sources
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.