Steemit Learning Challenge-S22W1: Physical Therapy Intervention: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Hello, everyone; we are here to share the contest for week 1, the first week of Steemit Learning Challenge season 22. I am grateful to all the users who participated in the previous season and supported my course, and thankful to the Steemit team for this opportunity. I invite all the users to share their unique participation and try to gain maximum grades to get selected as the winner of the Steemit Engagement Challenge season 22, week 1.

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Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition that occurs for multiple reasons, but the most common are repetitive use and nerve compression in the wrist region. It's not a genetically inherited disease.

Causes

The common causes of carpal tunnel syndrome are below:

• Carpal tunnel syndrome's most common cause is the compression of the median nerve that passes from the forearm to the wrist through a passage called the carpal tunnel.
• Overuse or repetitive pressure, like people who work on computers (typing) and vibrating objects, causes nerve damage and muscle weakness.
• If the median nerve is larger than the carpal tunnel.
• Hormonal changes like in pregnancy or menopause.

Symptoms

The common symptoms shown in carpal tunnel syndrome patients are:

• Pain in the wrist, hand, and finger, that is worse at night
• Numbness & tingling sensation due to nerve compression in the thumb, index and middle finger.
• Weakness in forearm muscles due to repetitive use.

Types

Acute CTS

• The sudden onset of symptoms due to trauma or injury. Symptoms last for a few days or weeks.

Chronic CTS

• The gradual onset of symptoms due to repetitive use. The symptoms last from weeks to months.

Primary CTS

• The cause of carpal tunnel syndrome is idiopathic, there is no known cause.

Secondary CTS

• Carpal tunnel syndrome can occur due to any secondary disease like pregnancy, diabetes mellitus, thyroid disease and trauma or injury.

Diagnosis

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome diagnosis can be made by different methods, but commonly used are:

• A thorough physical examination by a physician or physical therapist.
• EMG to measure the electrical activity of muscles.
• NCS (nerve conduction study) test to measure the strength of muscles and also its speed.

Special Tests

In physiotherapy, we perform some special tests to confirm the diagnosis.

• Phalen's Test
• Flicks Test
• Reverse Phalen's Test
• Tinel's Sign
• Median Nerve Compression

Physical Therapy Intervention for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Physical therapy interventions for carpal tunnel syndrome for days to weeks to regain normal range of motion or performing activities of daily living and subside the symptoms. Here are a few exercise videos that you have to perform to treat carpal tunnel syndrome patients. Treatment protocols vary from patient to patient.

But the main thing is you have to evaluate the exact cause of carpal tunnel syndrome, whether it's due to overuse or trauma. We can treat this condition completely with physical therapy but sometime surgical intervention required to open the passage for nerve. In carpal tunnel syndrome, some tests are also used in treatment plans.