Carpal Tunnel Syndrome And Massage Therapy: How Body Massage Helps Ease The Symptoms
Repetitive stress injury is a common affliction among people who do repetitive hand, arm and shoulder movements all day. Carpal tunnel syndrome is only one form of repetitive stress injury, and is its most commonly experienced form. Usually afflicted are people who work with computers. Tennis players have also been known to suffer from this. Your carpal tunnel syndrome and other forms of repetitive stress injury can be treated by regular massage therapy.
To prevent carpal tunnel syndrome, proper posture and regular stretching is important. Regular body massage will also keep the muscles supple and relaxed. Strengthening the forearm, neck, shoulder and back muscles is also important.
According to a study done by the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami School of Medicine, massage therapy techniques help ease the pain of carpal tunnel syndrome and increases grip strength. A well-known massage spa in Clearwater, FL has been providing its clients with such an alternative medical treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome. Their professional and highly-trained massage therapists are knowledgeable in specific massage techniques that can help ease some of the symptoms of such an ailment.
Carpal tunnel syndrome can be treated by decreasing repetitive hand and wrist use, splinting the wrist to keep it from bending at an awkward angle, treating any medical conditions known to contribute to the problem, or administering nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. If these methods do not relieve symptoms or if the syndrome is severe enough to cause progressive hand weakness and loss of feeling, surgery is usually recommended. The operation consists of cutting a ligament that lies along the floor of the carpal tunnel. This opens up the constriction within the carpal tunnel and relieves pressure on the median nerve.
However, if the condition does not require something as invasive as surgery, then massage therapy can help. Massage techniques like deep tissue massage and sports massage have been known to help relieve the pain caused by CTS. Other massage therapy techniques like the Swedish massage can also soothe muscle stress and anxiety. When there is chronic muscle tension or injury, there are usually adhesions (bands of painful, rigid tissue) in muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Adhesions can block circulation and cause pain, limited movement, and inflammation.
Deep tissue massage works by physically breaking down these adhesions to relieve pain and restore normal movement. To do this, the massage therapists often use direct deep pressure or friction applied across the grain of the muscles. Friction is one of the 4 basic strokes of massage therapy. The other four, according to one therapist from Clearwater are effleurage, petrissage, vibration, and tapotement. The Swedish massage uses all 5 strokes while the sports massage uses vibration, friction, and tapotement to treat some of the symptoms of CTS like numbness and stiffness.
One of the main preventative measures of carpal tunnel syndrome involves making physical adjustments in the work environment in order to minimize repetitive work habits. Create an ergonomic work station and use proper body mechanics. You can actually have fun trying different ways to perform your work in a way that won't cause undue stress and strain on your body.
Getting regular body massage or massage therapy also helps a lot. Try getting an hour-long Swedish massage at least twice a month. Set an appointment with your favorite massage spa in Oldsmar, Safety Harbor, Trinity, and Clearwater, FL now.
To prevent carpal tunnel syndrome, proper posture and regular stretching is important. Regular body massage will also keep the muscles supple and relaxed. Strengthening the forearm, neck, shoulder and back muscles is also important.
According to a study done by the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami School of Medicine, massage therapy techniques help ease the pain of carpal tunnel syndrome and increases grip strength. A well-known massage spa in Clearwater, FL has been providing its clients with such an alternative medical treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome. Their professional and highly-trained massage therapists are knowledgeable in specific massage techniques that can help ease some of the symptoms of such an ailment.
Carpal tunnel syndrome can be treated by decreasing repetitive hand and wrist use, splinting the wrist to keep it from bending at an awkward angle, treating any medical conditions known to contribute to the problem, or administering nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. If these methods do not relieve symptoms or if the syndrome is severe enough to cause progressive hand weakness and loss of feeling, surgery is usually recommended. The operation consists of cutting a ligament that lies along the floor of the carpal tunnel. This opens up the constriction within the carpal tunnel and relieves pressure on the median nerve.
However, if the condition does not require something as invasive as surgery, then massage therapy can help. Massage techniques like deep tissue massage and sports massage have been known to help relieve the pain caused by CTS. Other massage therapy techniques like the Swedish massage can also soothe muscle stress and anxiety. When there is chronic muscle tension or injury, there are usually adhesions (bands of painful, rigid tissue) in muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Adhesions can block circulation and cause pain, limited movement, and inflammation.
Deep tissue massage works by physically breaking down these adhesions to relieve pain and restore normal movement. To do this, the massage therapists often use direct deep pressure or friction applied across the grain of the muscles. Friction is one of the 4 basic strokes of massage therapy. The other four, according to one therapist from Clearwater are effleurage, petrissage, vibration, and tapotement. The Swedish massage uses all 5 strokes while the sports massage uses vibration, friction, and tapotement to treat some of the symptoms of CTS like numbness and stiffness.
One of the main preventative measures of carpal tunnel syndrome involves making physical adjustments in the work environment in order to minimize repetitive work habits. Create an ergonomic work station and use proper body mechanics. You can actually have fun trying different ways to perform your work in a way that won't cause undue stress and strain on your body.
Getting regular body massage or massage therapy also helps a lot. Try getting an hour-long Swedish massage at least twice a month. Set an appointment with your favorite massage spa in Oldsmar, Safety Harbor, Trinity, and Clearwater, FL now.