Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Repetitive Strain Injury

Carpal Tunnel syndrome occurs when one of the nerves to the hand (the median nerve) is compressed as it travels through the wrist. Carpal tunnel syndrome can occur due to repetitive hand or wrist use, previous wrist injury or sometimes during pregnancy. Patients often report feeling wrist and hand pain and numbness of the thumb index and middle finger and half of the ring finger.

(Picture courtesy of Mayo clinic website, 2006)

Many different conditions can appear to be carpal tunnel syndrome, but are really repetitive strain injury. A thorough assessment is needed to confirm the diagnosis and appropriate treatment. If you have a condition that seems to be carpal tunnel syndrome but your carpal tunnel syndrome tests are negative you may have a repetitive strain injury. Repetitive strain injury can include carpal tunnel syndrome, thoracic outlet syndrome, shoulder, elbow or wrist tendonitis, and chronic wrist sprain. Your Nose Creek physiotherapist will be able to help with this assessment and diagnosis. Your doctor may order nerve conduction tests to confirm the clinical diagnosis.

The treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome at Nose Creek Sport Physical Therapy includes education about the injury, anti-inflammatory modalities to reduce the pain and swelling, bracing to protect the wrist, manual therapy to regain full pain free ROM and a safe and appropriate wrist strengthening program.

The physiotherapy treatment for RSI at Nose Creek Sport Physical Therapy will be very much dependent on the findings of your comprehensive assessment. Generally treatment includes education about the injury, posture correction, manual therapy to the affected areas and occasionally acupuncture or intramuscular stimulation.

For more information or to arrange an assessment please contact Nose Creek Sport Physical Therapy.