Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is a very common problem that affects many people. In fact, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports about 28,000 CTS cases per year and because so many sufferers jump to a surgical option, it’s become THE LEADING CAUSE of lost workdays in the United States. Women are 71% more likely more likely to develop CTS than men!
In a review of over 31,000 cases, women spent an average of 30 days off work because of CTS. Jobs most commonly affected include: production workers in food processing and clothing manufacturing, typists who work at keyboards for hours on end, and construction workers who use tools that vibrate, such as jackhammers or tools that have poorly designed handles. The Journal of the American Medical Association recently estimated that almost 3 percent of adults in the United States may suffer from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome at some point in their lives.
Now that we’ve learned how susceptible we are to CTS, what are some things you can do to decrease your chances of acquiring Carpal Tunnel Syndrome? For starters, keep your weight reasonable (Body Mass Index between 19 and 25), take “mini-breaks” during the repetitive work day, and receive chiropractic treatments aimed at releasing the tight muscles in the neck, shoulders, upper arms, forearms, hand and adjusting the associated joints.
You can also stretch! There are many different types of stretches that should be considered. Feel free to watch the entire 37-minute YouTube video at the link below that addresses many exercises that may help:
As you perform these various stretches, take deep breaths, “feel” the different fibers of muscles stretch and keep the intensity, “…within reasonable pain boundaries.” That is, a “good hurt” is what you’re striving for here, no sharp pain is allowed!
We realize you have a choice in who you consider for your health care provision and we sincerely appreciate your trust in choosing our service for those needs. If you, a friend or family member require care for CTS, we would be honored to render our services.
To schedule an appointment for carpal tunnel treatment in San Francisco please call 415-392-2225.
With so many people having CTS and unnecessary surgeries, this is great information! Conservative care should be the first choice for most diagnosis... it's not surprising that yoga can be used as part of a conservative treatment protocol for CTS - hopefully many more healthcare providers will embrace this!
Posted by: Dr. Bethanne Baretich | August 01, 2012 at 04:23 PM