Sunday, August 9, 2009

Yoga Helpful in Carpal Tunnel Treatment

By Tom Nicholson

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome often abbreviated as the acronym CTS, is an illness that manifests itself in parasthesia, numbness, and weakness in the hand or hands. Parasthesia is numbness or prickling feelings, colloquially known as "pins and needles". The primary cause is the compression of the median nerve at the wrist. The condition can be treated with carpal tunnel exercises using yoga.

While many people believe carpal tunnel means you have problems in your arms, it's actually the wrist that contains the problem. When the area swells and builds up fluids, the median nerve becomes compressed. How exactly CTS is caused remains a mystery, but most of it is from genetics. Then of course you can find information on environmental factors being the culprit as well.

However, there are occasions where CTS is misdiagnosed for RSI or repetitive strain injury. Just like carpal tunnel, RSI can create numbness, pain, and weakness in the same locations. Most people who use a computer and type as their job complain about these symptoms all the time. The main thing you need to do is figure out what you have, because not knowing could result in the wrong medical help.

Even though RSI and CTS are not actually related, they both have similar traits. In the medical world you won't find a true connection, but the symptoms make people believe one may entice the other. All you need to know is that overuse of the hands can cause excess fluids to build up. Mix this in with swelling around the flexor tendons and you'll find yourself with carpal tunnel. In the end it all compresses the median nerve.

Your CTS can start healing and be prevented by the simplest procedures. Things such as changing your work environment or behavior are a great place to start when combating CTS. For example, try sitting up straight at your desk. Once you're in this position, move your keyboard, mouse, and computer monitor in the appropriate positions. Basically making sure you have the first two levels at your desk, and the monitor focusing on your eye level. These are the beginning steps because once each one is in place the domino effect will begin. Your proper posture will reduce stress on areas of the body and promote a better workday.

There are several treatments for CTS. Surgery is a drastic measure, reserved for the most extreme cases, but the resultant effect may be unpredictable. Local injections of steroids are another option, but this is suitable only for short periods of time. Splinting and the use of other medical devices are the least invasive methods, but many do not wish to use them. Many find that modifications to work behavior, such as taking short breaks frequently, as well as massage, are the most accessible ways to relieve symptoms. Other than that, carpal tunnel exercises using yoga that gently stretch the wrist are the best way.

Yoga is a system of exercises developed in India centuries, even millennia ago. These are stretching exercises that involve all parts of the body. They build flexibility and muscle strength, improve circulation, reduce and stress. The wrist is involved constantly, and symptoms of CTS are relieved. Carpal tunnel exercises using yoga may not only be the best way to cure CTS, it also improves your health in general.

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