What causes carpal tunnel syndrome to develop? Although there are many professional opinions out there regarding the subject, most do not provide an accurate description of how carpal tunnel syndrome actually occurs.
What is agreed upon is the fact that the flexor tendons and median nerve are operating in a much smaller space than they were prior to the onset of symptoms. Many professionals state that it is the swelling of the involved tissues that is diminishing the space and others say that is caused by a muscle imbalance between the flexor and extensor muscles that is causing the carpal bones to shift into the carpal tunnel, making the carpal tunnel much smaller.
After much research, my opinion is that the swelling is a "secondary effect" of the nine flexor tendons and median nerve having to glide through the carpal tunnel which has decreased in size due to a muscle imbalance*.
How does the carpal tunnel decrease in size? The carpal tunnel decreases in size because the flexor muscles that ‘close' the hands are exercised on a daily basis with virtually every activity we perform, and they become stronger, shorter and tighter than the extensor muscles that ‘open' the hands, thus causing the carpal bones to shift inward, collapsing the carpal tunnel and making it smaller. As the tendons and median nerve slide back and forth in the much smaller space, friction between the tissues occurs.
What does friction in the carpal tunnel cause? Friction between flexor tendons and median nerve within the carpal tunnel causes inflammation and swelling, which puts pressure on the median nerve, resulting in carpal tunnel syndrome. This is the reason that surgeons sever the carpal ligament, making more room for the flexor tendons and median nerve to move around in. If the carpal tunnel is returned back to its original size, prior to the onset of symptoms, the friction and swelling is eliminated and the symptoms disappear.
Continually performing repetitive wrist and finger flexion while symptoms are already present will ultimately aggravate the existing condition even more and lead to possible irreversible damage of the flexor tendons, blood vessels and median nerve within the carpal tunnel.
How can the carpal tunnel syndrome be eliminated? By stretching and lengthening the overly restrictive flexor muscles that ‘close' the hands and strengthening and shortening the extensor muscles that ‘open' the hands, the carpal tunnel can return to its normal size, decreasing impingement of the tendons and median nerve, which also eliminates friction and causes the carpal tunnel symptoms to disappear.
Now is the time to take the steps to prevent and/or eliminate carpal tunnel syndrome by starting a stretch / exercise program for your hands. Speak with your doctor or contact a certified therapist today to implement a good stretch and exercise program to keep you strong, healthy and injury-free!
Related Articles
Trigger Finger - Is It Really All That Common?
By: Jeff P. Anliker, Lmt | 07/03/2006 | Health
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is the most widely recognized form of Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI), but Trigger Finger is catching up fast, becoming all too common among society and affecting the youth and elderly in ever-increasing numbers.
Muscle Imbalance And Chronic Injuries
By: Jeff P. Anliker, Lmt | 26/02/2006 | Health
Injuries can occur anywhere and at anytime, but the most prevalent place of occurrence is in the workplace.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Basics
By: Amanda Baker | 28/01/2006 | Health
carpal tunnel syndrome can affect nearly anyone
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Symptoms Gone, Just By Dieting?
By: Robert Vignoli | 31/01/2008 | Health
We are what we eat, you can encourage and maintain healthy hands again just by watching what you eat. Reduce the pain and swelling that you suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms, by dieting?
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Symptoms are often made worst by what we eat and drink daily. Coffee, alcohol,...
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Treatment
By: Alien | 02/02/2008 | Alternative Medicine
Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve, which runs from the forearm into the hand, becomes pressed or squeezed at the wrist. The median nerve controls sensations to the palm side of the thumb and fingers (although not the little finger), as well as impulses to some small muscles in the hand that allow the fingers and thumb to move.
Are Carpal Tunnel Syndrome exercises really effective?
By: Jack Prime | 05/07/2006 | Health
If you suffer from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome then you've probably heard of exercises designed to relieve the pain, but are they really effective?
Home Remedies for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Treatment
By: Alien | 02/02/2008 | Alternative Medicine
Carpal tunnel syndrome is more common in women than in men. Carpal tunnel syndrome causes numbness and pain in the hand.
carpel tunnel syndrome
By: Bishal Boro | 02/08/2006 | Diseases and Conditions
The carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when ones median nerve become hard-pressed or squeezed of at the wrist area. Due to that it leads to serious form of painful disease
Latest Health Articles
Do You Know How to Have Beautiful Skin?
By: John Russell | 19/07/2008
The older you are, the more important it is to get started with a quality skin care regimen right away. Most cleansers, makeup, and other beauty products are full of harsh synthetic chemicals that may be harmful to skin. Natural solutions for healthy skin care are better for you, support a cleaner environment and natural techniques work at least as well.
Getting To The Bottom Of Internal Hemorrhoids
By: Jose Rossello | 19/07/2008
Remedies for internal hemorrhoids ranges greatly: from surgery to medication, changes in diet, suppositories, natural herbal remedies or a combination of these. Hemorrhoid medications are designed to soothe the pain of the condition, shrink the swollen tissue and act as an anti-inflammatory.
Dental Cleanings: Why Semi-annual Dental Cleanings are Essential
By: David Siegel | 19/07/2008
Dental cleanings are essential to good dental health.
How To Lose Fat And Gain Muscle
By: Cliff Baker | 19/07/2008
The pace of life is getting faster for most of us. This is one of the reasons why fast food restaurants are popping up like mushrooms wherever you go. It's easy to opt for quicker food stops since no one really has time to cook and fix healthy meals. It may be a quick fix, but done everyday, all the bad stuff in fast food is going to creep up
Mold Exposure and Health Problems
By: Richard Barthallo | 19/07/2008
If you are one of the millions of people that do suffer from allergies, then you know how annoying and painful they can be. A large percentage of visits to the doctor are allergy related. A significant amount of money spent every year for over the counter and prescription remedies that will help to ease allergy sufferer's discomfort.
Twelve Qualities of Spirit - Health
By: Peri Enkin | 19/07/2008
When we think of health only in terms of the physical body we think too small. And when we think small we find ourselves trying to deal with "symptoms" and "conditions" at the surface level and not achieving the results we want.
Free Exercise to Make Your Penis Bigger
By: Tyler Williams | 19/07/2008
Do you know how to make your penis bigger naturally? You'll know once you read this article.
Where to Look for Arthritis Back Pain Relief Products
By: Scott Goodman | 19/07/2008
Arthritis is an illness that is mainly characterized by pain and swelling in the joints. The term arthritis is actually an umbrella term that includes more than 100 different conditions, all which are considered in some way as being a form of arthritis.
More from Jeff P. Anliker, Lmt
Defeating Trigger Thumb
By: Jeff P. Anliker, Lmt | 06/12/2007 | Wellness
Trigger Finger and Trigger Thumb are at epidemic levels with not much offered for relief. Surgery or cortisone are not great options to have but conservative therapy can eliminate these disorders with invasive treatment.
Top 5 Ways to Stop Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
By: Jeff P. Anliker, Lmt | 06/12/2007 | Wellness
Carpal tunnel syndrome is everywhere. Now with just five simple steps, you and anyone else can get rid of it fast!
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome In Grocery Clerks
By: Jeff P. Anliker, Lmt | 19/02/2007 | Health
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a very serious affliction suffered by approximately 3% of the U.S. population, or 9-million workers annually. While symptoms usually begin as a general ache or pain in the wrist and hand, carpal tunnel syndrome is a very serious disorder that can lead to severe dysfunction and...
Stop Wrist Pain With Conservative Therapy
By: Jeff P. Anliker, Lmt | 04/02/2007 | Medicine
Wrist pain can occur for a variety of reasons including medical illness, overuse of the wrist, and acute trauma. In each case, the pain can be debilitating and undermine one's ability to perform basic daily living tasks in a pain-free environment. Thankfully, innovative treatments are emerging to help manage, reduce,...
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome And Computer Use
By: Jeff P. Anliker, Lmt | 01/02/2007 | Medicine
While there are a lot of rumors about carpal tunnel syndrome and computer use, it is hard to find a definitive answer on what, if any, actual link there is between the development of carpal tunnel syndrome and the use of computers.
Does computer use increase one's chances of developing carpal...
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome In Musicians
By: Jeff P. Anliker, Lmt | 24/01/2007 | Health
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is caused by compression of the median nerve that passes through the carpal tunnel in the wrist. Along with the diagnosis of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome comes considerable pain and impairment along with numbness, paresthesia (pins and needles) and loss of hand strength, coordination, and pincer grasp. This...
Eliminating Repetitive Strain Injuries In The Workplace
By: Jeff P. Anliker, Lmt | 07/03/2006 | Health
Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI's) that occur at work are best eliminated at the source; this is the fundamental goal of occupational health and safety.
Trigger Finger - Is It Really All That Common?
By: Jeff P. Anliker, Lmt | 07/03/2006 | Health
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is the most widely recognized form of Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI), but Trigger Finger is catching up fast, becoming all too common among society and affecting the youth and elderly in ever-increasing numbers.
Health 
