C3. – The following two page article has 870 words. Copyright permission is granted when used without alteration and bio is included.
Why Tight Muscles Cause Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
By Julie Donnelly, LMT
In 1999 the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) proposed radical changes in the workforce to curb the spread of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. These changes in the law would have affected businesses both large and small, and depending on whose statistics one reads, would have saved - or cost - industry billions of dollars.
Immediately upon taking office, President Bush cancelled the new OSHA Ergonomics Ruling. Industry took a breath, and Labor rebelled. One thing hasn't changed - the Department of Labor reports that Carpal Tunnel Syndrome affects over 600,000 workers yearly. In 1997 the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics reported that 325,000 carpal tunnel release surgeries were performed, and that figure has increased through the years.
To see the impact of carpal tunnel syndrome, consider that prior to surgery, the pain and numbness in the hand and wrist that is symptomatic to carpal tunnel syndrome will cause:
- Decreased productivity
- Increased sick time
- Rise in accumulated medical costs (affecting both the employee and the employer)
- The potential lost of employment due to the inability to continue doing necessary work
Many times an individual is told that the only way to treat the problem is to have surgery. After surgery the employee requires a six week recuperation period, forcing businesses to hire temporary help while paying disability pay to the employee. However, disability is rarely enough to pay for the employees living expenses, so the employee has two options; suffer at work, or lose money while staying home. Carpal tunnel syndrome is costing industry, and the employee, a fortune. And, it doesn't appear to be improving!
Ergonomics has been touted as one of the "cure-alls". But is it? A new keyboard, chair, or mouse may assist in helping prevent CTS, but the bottom–line is the employee is still typing. Typing causes repetitive strain on the forearm muscles that insert into the wrist and hand, and the only way to prevent the strain is to stop typing – in other words, stop working!
Pain in the wrist is the classic symptom of carpal tunnel syndrome. However, it is also the symptom of Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) to the muscles of the forearm. Numbness of the thumb and first two fingers is caused by pressure on the median nerve. A group of muscles in the neck, and a muscle in the chest, has been proven to entrap the median nerve, and refer numbness into the hand.
Repetitive Strain Injury isn't only a work related problem, it is caused by any movement that is done frequently, especially when there is force, or vibration, added to the motion. Tennis, playing piano, crocheting, even driving for long distances can cause RSI.
Treating the muscles of the neck, chest and forearm has proven successful in relieving the symptoms associated with carpal tunnel syndrome. Julie Donnelly, LMT, and her staff of trained therapists, have been working with patients suffering from a wide assortment of repetitive strain injuries. "The success rate is remarkable" stated Zev Cohen, MD, Medical Director of Healthcheck in Nanuet, NY, "we were especially pleased to see the rapid decrease in carpal tunnel pain".
After suffering from a debilitating case of carpal tunnel syndrome that caused her to close her therapy practice, Julie healed herself by studying the muscles that impact the nerves to her hand, and also studying which muscles have an impact on the nerves. She then started teaching a self-treatment version of the carpal tunnel treatment in 1997. The Julstro System's key component is a specialized tool that applies the correct amount of force on the muscles without hurting the working hand. Along with the Julstro Tool, Julie has put in supporting materials, a DVD and colorful chart, to teach how to correctly use the Tool, and how to find the source of pain and numbness. Julie points out; "Many of our patients are not on computers. We have taught the self–treatment techniques to senior citizens who spend hours crocheting, to professional musicians, and to patients from a wide variety of careers & sports."
Surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome should be considered as the last option, it should be used only when more conservative treatments fail. We recommend that anyone considering carpal tunnel surgery use the Julstro self–treatment technique for one month. If surgery eventually becomes necessary the muscles are relaxed and free of all spasms, allowing the surgery to have a higher rate of success."
© 2002
Julie Donnelly is a licensed massage therapist specializing in the treatment of chronic pain and sports injuries. She has co–authored several self–treatment books, including "The Pain–Free Triathlete" and "Carpal Tunnel Syndrome–What You Don′t Know CAN Hurt You." She teaches Julstro self–treatment workshops nationwide and is a frequent presenter at Conventions and Seminars. Julie may be contacted through her website: www.julstro.com.
