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Physical Therapy for Carpal TunnelRaleigh-Durham, Fayetteville & Surrounding North Carolina Cities

The best treatment for carpal tunnel is typically physical therapy. With thorough testing, your physical therapist will determine the cause of your problem, including looking at other areas that may be contributing to your symptoms.

Your therapist will lay out a plan that will address the neck, shoulders, upper back, and the wrist if carpal tunnel syndrome is your problem. Your PT will also suggest stopping activities that create pain and numbness to allow the wrist to become less inflamed.

Common Causes of Carpal Tunnel

Carpal tunnel syndrome is quite common, impacting three million people in the United States annually. No matter the severity, symptoms are caused by nerve constriction at the wrist. The median nerve supplies the thumb, index, and middle finger and these digits are most often numb and tingly with carpal tunnel syndrome. Compression of this nerve occurs due to repetitive motion where the muscles of the wrist and forearm create a smaller space for the median nerve to travel. Patients who complete a lot of typing, repetitive lifting, or repetitive wrist motions are most at risk for developing symptoms.

Exercises for Carpal Tunnel

Carpal tunnel treatment strategies vary based on the severity of symptoms. At times, surgical decompression of cutting the ligament over the wrist may be the best option to relieve the pressure on the median nerve. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome can almost always be improved by physical therapy, regardless of having surgery. Exercises for carpal tunnel typically include neck, shoulder, and upper back exercises to increase mobility, flexibility, and stability in these areas. Other important exercises will mobilize the wrist, stretch the forearm, strengthen any weak areas and strive to prevent symptoms from returning.

When to Seek Physical Therapy Treatment

With carpal tunnel syndrome, weakness, pain, and tingling in the hand and forearm are common. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it is important to seek physical therapy to address them early on. Your symptoms will tend to worsen the longer they are present. Your physical therapist at BreakThrough PT in Raleigh-Durham will address weakness and muscle function as well as suggest modifying activities to alleviate your symptoms.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • If we are asking you to do something that is hurting too much, let us know! Physical therapy should not be severely painful. It is not common to be so sore that patients are in pain or it affects their daily life. If this ever happens during or after an appointment, let us know and we will adapt your program.

  • We recommend budgeting 40-60 minutes for a typical therapy session. The only exception to this will be your first visit, which can take about 20 minutes longer due to the physical therapy evaluation your therapist will provide. We also recommend showing up about 10-15 minutes early to your first visit. This way, you can complete the paperwork before your visit time and streamline the process.

  • A physical therapy visit lasts about 40-60 minutes. The actual contents of the visit vary based on your diagnosis/need, but typically what happens is:

    1. You check in with the receptionist, make any appointments necessary, and we discuss your health insurance benefits with you.
    2. You go into the gym. You can change clothes if you need to, then begin therapy.
    3. You perform 6-8 various exercises and stretches. These can include therapeutic band exercises, light body weight exercises, or minimal weights. The stretches will promote strength, stability, improved range of motion, and pain relief.
    4. We can initiate other techniques to include manual work, taping, cupping, and dry needling as needed.
    5. The therapist makes recommendations based on your progress. These can include altering the frequency of visits, making additions/alterations to your home exercise plan, or things to do before your next visit.

  • During your initial evaluation, your therapist may ask you a number of questions to determine what the cause of your pain is. This can include questions about your sleep habits, activity level, and work environment. They will also ask for a medical history, and then typically ask direct questions about where and when you experience pain.

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