Massage Techniques for Carpal Tunnel

Please note, caution must be used when massaging of muscles for Carpal Tunnel syndrome. Any techniques that simulate or aggravate the pain for the client must be avoided. The following information should be only after consulting your medical practioner.

There are several important factors to note when considering massage for Carpal Tunnel syndrome. Direct manipulation of the damaged nerve is highly detrimental and can easily cause other problems. Direct pressure on the carpal tunnel region should be applied rarely and always with great caution.

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In non-severe cases, myofascial stretching over the flexor retinaculum has proved helpful in reducing the aggravating symptoms although this technique should not be used if it aggravates the symptoms. In some cases, overuse and hypertonicity of the flexors of the wrist and fingers may be the main problem and attention to these muscles is essential (beginning with gentle pressure - too little is better than too much). Deep longitudinal stripping and compression-broadening strokes can be used on the forearm flexors in an attempt to regain optimum tone in these tissues.

As mentioned above, it is important to address all the regions of the upper arm and neck as the median nerve may be compressed in a number of other locations. Indeed, in some cases the median nerve may be entrapped in one of these other locations and not in the carpal tunnel though the symptoms may be identical. Too often, median nerve entrapment is not thoroughly treated because attention is focused only on the carpal tunnel and not on those related areas.

Studies have shown that Carpal Tunnel syndrome symptoms are lessened following massage therapy (1). Massage lead to a significant reduction in pain and reduced symptoms as well as improved functional capabilities such as increased grip strength.

(1). Touch Research Institute at University of Miami. T. Field, etc. Originally published in the Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 2004, Vol 8, pp9-14.

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