Dr. Helton sees a lot of people troubled with carpal tunnel syndrome in our busy Portland chiropractic office. While some people think that the origin of this wrist-related pain is muscular, it's really 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 evaluated 71 women between the ages of 35 and 59 who were diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome. Upon investigating the subjects' neck range of motion, the authors discovered that the patients had reduced cervical mobility when compared to a healthy control group.
In addition, they also found that the level of the women's reported carpal tunnel discomfort was connected to the lateral flexion of the cervical spine. In short, the less flexibility in the neck, the higher the level of pain.
This study is extremely important, as you can't successfully treat a problem until you fully understand its cause. 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, reducing the need for risky surgical procedures.
If you suffer with carpal tunnel pain, call our Portland location and ask how Dr. Helton 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.
Dr. Helton, a Portland chiropractor, has been providing chiropractic health care and treatment for accident injuries for over 30 years. Dr. Helton specializes and is an expert in the evaluation and treatment of injuries from auto accidents. He has passed advanced certification training and testing by the Spine Research Institute of San Diego in the evaluation, treatment, and management of injuries from whiplash and brain traumatology.
