How to Perform a Carpal Tunnel Massage
What is Carpal Tunnel Massage?
Carpal tunnel massage is an effective remedy for carpal tunnel syndrome. In fact, it's the first therapeutic choice of physical therapists because it's non-surgical and it works well in most patients.
The specific type of massage therapists use is called “myofascial release”. If you have carpal tunnel symptoms this therapy eliminates the pain, numbness or tingling with good success, and without surgery. If you think you have (or are getting) carpal tunnel syndrome, it’s an excellent preventive measure to stop the advancement of this serious hand condition.
- FIND OUT: do you have carpal tunnel? No strings attached self-test.
Key facts about carpal tunnel syndrome
Understanding the process of getting carpal tunnel illustrates why carpal tunnel massage is successful. First, the main thing to know about carpal tunnel is that it’s a problem with your forearm flexor tendons.
Overworked tendons form adhesions and restrictions between the surrounding tissues. The adhesions cause tendon irritation and inflammation. As a result, swelling occurs deep inside the wrist joint.
Want to know how severe your carpal tunnel really is?
Take this 60 second Quiz designed by Dr. Z.
Swelling is actually fluid build-up. Therefore, as more and more fluid builds up, pressure increases deep inside the wrist joint.
Unfortunately, the median nerve (which controls hand and finger sensation) is in the middle of all the swelling. So as fluid slowly builds up and pressure increases, the median nerve undergoes compression.
In time, the increasing pressure crushes the nerve. As a result, you feel the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. The major symptoms are hand or finger:
Most important points about a carpal tunnel massage
Breaking up the adhesions around tendons eliminates the irritation surrounding them. Then the tendons are able to glide smoothly again. So breaking up those adhesions is crucial to the healing process.
With carpal tunnel massage using myofascial release, the therapist “kneads” the tissues over your wrist and forearm. They use both thumbs to break up or “release” the adhesions.
In earlier days, it was thought such kneading only broke up the adhesions between muscles (“myo”) and their surrounding connective tissue (“fascia”). Hence the term
myo-fascial release.
But today, such kneading between any two adjacent tissues is also called
myofascial release massage.
Properly applied carpal tunnel massage with myofascial release is effective against carpal tunnel because it also drains fluid build-up inside the wrist joint. Therefore, when fluid drains out, it releases even more pressure on the median nerve. This is how the median nerve is able to recover from the damage caused by fluid pressure.
Key points of carpal tunnel massage
First
If you or a therapist performs this carpal tunnel massage, ensure it's properly applied. Many people make the mistake of trying to massage themselves. Doing so is not very effective. In fact, the motions required make it impossible to do it properly on yourself.
You need the two thumbs to perform myofascial release carpal tunnel massage. Therefore, you need a partner or a therapist. All physical therapists know how to do this. Alternatively, you can use the CarpalRx which is calibrated to perform myofascial release massage automatically.
Second
Establish a regimen. You must get a carpal tunnel massage daily and for at least 3-4 weeks if you have carpal tunnel syndrome. For example, carve out time (preferably morning and evening) to get a 15 minute treatment from a partner, therapist or the CarpalRx.
Third
Be patient. A proper carpal tunnel massage is not an overnight cure for carpal tunnel syndrome. Therefore, faithfully follow your daily regimen for several weeks to see good results. Remember, it took years (literally) for you to acquire carpal tunnel syndrome. So nothing will cure the symptoms overnight.
The “Do Not’s” of carpal tunnel massage
First
Do not try to perform a carpal tunnel massage with myofascial release on yourself. It just won’t work because you need two thumbs to knead the skin and underlying tissues.
Second
Do not skip daily sessions of carpal tunnel massage. Consistency and persistence is the key. Otherwise, you’re just throwing money away or wasting time.
Third
Never use a vibration massager to treat carpal tunnel syndrome. In fact, vibrating tool users are almost 10 times more likely to get carpal tunnel syndrome than other people. Vibrating tools cause vibration syndrome. This is very similar to carpal tunnel syndrome. Therefore, don’t invite more carpal tunnel pain or numbness with a vibrating device.
How therapists perform carpal tunnel massage
Rotating fingers
A therapist performs a carpal tunnel massage primarily with their thumbs. But it's actually best to use the thumbs AND forefingers.
Therapists make deep, rotating patterns on the wrist and forearm. The motions are counter-rotating (moving in opposing directions). And they repeat the pattern over and over.
Also, the massaging fingers never stay in one area. Instead, they move slightly up and down the lower wrist and forearm. They cover an area of approximately 3-6 square inches.
The results
As they move, the massaging fingers “knead” the skin and deeper tissues. The massaging thumbs mostly work the base of your wrist where nerve compression is most severe. Furthermore, the massaging motion concentrates on moving across the wrist (left to right), as well as forward and backward.
Most therapists use as much massage pressure as the patient can bear without it being too painful. Generally, the therapy takes about 15 minutes.
As a result of this motion, the massaging fingers break up the tendon adhesions. It also drains fluid from inside the wrist joint. Finally, the massaging motion improves blood flow. All of this is vital to helping the median nerve heal.
Get the most out of it
Every therapist will say that carpal tunnel massage using myofascial release works very well. It eliminates carpal tunnel syndrome so that pain and numbness disappear for good.
But they also caution that for this technique to work, you must have it every day. Moreover, you must have it performed for several weeks. If you don't devote yourself to such a regimen then you’re just wasting time and money
Conclusion
A proper carpal tunnel massage will incorporate the myofascial release technique. During massage the kneading motion breaks up tendon adhesions that cause swelling and pressure on the median nerve.
In time, excess fluid drains out of the wrist joint causing symptoms to disappear. However, you need this massage twice daily for at least 3-4 weeks to see symptoms disappear completely.