Therapy for Your Hands & Arms

Posted: October 19th, 2015

Your hands are very hardworking body parts that we keep busy all day long. We sometimes take our hands for granted until we get hurt and realize how much we need to use them. Hands suffer more stress and strain than we even think about. From arthritis, to carpal tunnel to tendonitis, it's inevitable that at some time you will feel some pain in your fingers. Did you know that one fourth of athletic injuries involve the hand and wrist and one third of all acute injuries in the emergency rooms involve hands and arms?  What do you do if your doctor tells you that you have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)? Symptoms of CTS include numbness, tingling, and pain in the hand and fingers as well as pain that can radiate up the forearm. The pain is caused by constant pressure on the median nerve – the main nerve to the hand. The pressure most often results from swelling or thickening of the wrist tendons due to repetitive wrist movements. Poor office ergonomics, turning a wrench or using tools all day, playing an instrument, or sleeping in an awkward position can cause or exacerbate CTS.   Surgery is very common for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Another treatment for carpal tunnel is massage therapy. Day spas see this all the time. Clients come in for hand massage and stimulation due to CTS. With so many people addicted to their technology devices, carpal tunnel syndrome has become a big problem for them. If you are suffering from this chronic condition or another hand injury like a sprain or broken bone, hand massage techniques can help alleviate that pain. Besides the other pain meds you might be taking, massage also provides another key healing tool.