Carpal tunnel syndrome is one of the most common conditions that affect the hand, resulting from pressure on the median nerve that runs through a bone and soft tissue structure on the underside of the wrist. The median nerve affects feeling and function in part of the thumb and the first three fingers.
Many medical practitioners consider fascia release to be a standard of care for alleviating carpal tunnel pain. As a fascia release specialist, Dr. Jason Ablett of Pinnacle Health Chiropractic in Kirkland and Seattle, Washington, agrees with this assessment. Here’s why you need to know about fascia release if you suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome.
The carpal tunnel is a space defined by bones and ligaments through the wrist and into the hand on the palm side. This passageway is narrow and fixed; it doesn’t expand.
Surrounding nine flexor tendons that run from the forearm into the hand as well as the median nerve, there’s not a lot of excess space. An osteofibrous canal, the carpal tunnel consists of a bony arch bridged by the transverse carpal ligament.
When any of the soft tissue of the structure becomes inflamed, pressure can build within the space. Compression and irritation of the median nerve is the primary cause of most symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, including:
Typically, the first signs of the condition present as numbness in your thumb and first three fingers, along with tingling, the sensation of your hand “falling asleep.” Your pinkie finger won’t have these symptoms.
As carpal tunnel syndrome progresses, you could start to feel sharp, electrical pain or constant dull aches. Pain can be episodic or constant without treatment.
The median nerve also controls some motor functions, particularly the muscles that perform the pinching motion with your thumb. You may feel that your grip is weaker, or you might start dropping objects more frequently.
Fascia is a thin protein sheath that surrounds muscles, bones, and other structures in your body. Normally, it’s flexible and moves easily, but inflammation and trauma robs fascia of its mobility.
A hands-on, gentle massage with constant pressure, fascia release breaks down adhesions with fascia tissue, restoring its flexibility. By performing fascia release on a patient’s wrists, Dr. Ablett can often relieve carpal tunnel pain and improve your hand’s performance, without the need to turn to injections or surgery to remove ligament tissue.
Pressure is the active therapeutic function of fascia release. There’s no medication involved, nor are oils or lotions used in the treatment. You can undergo fascia release therapy alongside any other treatment you’re receiving to control pain or reduce inflammation.
When you’re suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome, contact Pinnacle Health Chiropractic by calling 425-749-6527 or sending a message online to learn more about fascia release therapy.
