Carpal Tunnel Massage and Repetitive Stress Syndromes

Massage Helps Carpal Tunnel

The Merk Manual ® defines: “Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by deposition of mucinous ground substance in the ligaments around the wrist, producing nerve compression.”

How massage therapy helps: Waste products from cells get trapped in the tissues because the static contractions of the repetitive finger motions with the forearm held still impede the lymphatic draining of the area. The lymph system has no “pump” to move fluids and depends on muscle contractions to push the fluids out of the tissues. Waste buildup in a muscle reduces its ability to contract and lengthen through a full range of motion, causing muscle weakness and preventing lymph drainage.

Massage warms and softens the lymph (which has gotten compacted) and pushes it out of the tissues. This phase of massage is very light. The capillaries of the lymph system are small and can easily be crushed.)

Repetitive and/or static wrist and finger flexion causes the flexor muscles which 'close' the hand to develop more strength than the wrist and finger extensor muscles that 'open' the hand. This quickly leads to a "muscle imbalance" of the wrist and hand. Massage, especially combined with somatic awareness of how the body is moving habitually, helps activate and re-balance the forearm flexors and extensors. This second phase of the massage is deeper, lengthening the musles so they can become strong and return to their full range of motion. Exercise must also be included to re-balance the flexors and extensors.

If I have pain, tingling/numbness, or weak muscles in the arm, is it carpal tunnel syndrome?

What if I have pain, tingling and or numbness, and weak muscles in the arm?

Pain, tingling or weakness in any part of the arm can occur if nerves in the brachial plexus area are entrapped in tight muscles. This is known generally as thoracic outlet syndrome.

Your brachial Plexus is located at the top of your ribs toward the front of the neck - it feels like a triangle up on top of your clavicle. This area is also known as the thoracic outlet - where the nerves, arteries and veins flow from your torso out to your arms.

There are three types of entrapment that can occur in this area:

• tight neck muscles (anterior scalene syndrome),
• tight muscles ( pectoralis major, subclavius) pull the clavicle against the rib (costoclavicular syndrome),
• or tight pectoralis minor compressing the nerves against the rib cage (pectoralis minor syndrome).

Each of these is a strong candidate for massage and bodywork, and respond very well. You may have a combination of tight muscles that belong to one or more of these groups.

Pain, tingling or weakness in the arm can be thought to be the result of carpal tunnel sydrome, or cervical disk problems, because they present similar symptoms. Given the potentially serious recourse to surgery for these issues, be sure to evaluate whether you might have a musculoskeletal issue that can be resolved with massage first.