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Myofascial Release for Carpal Tunnel

Dr. Z • Mar 24, 2020

What is Myofascial Release for Carpal Tunnel?

Myofascial release for carpal tunnel syndrome may sound like a new health fad. But it's not. Myofascial release has been practiced for hundreds of years. And only in the last few decades has it been applied to relieving carpal tunnel syndrome.


In ancient times, nobody knew why it worked. Today, we understand the underlying mechanisms of myofascial release massage, right down to the cellular level.


If you've seen a physical therapist or chiropractor for your carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms, he or she probably performed this technique on you. That's because myofascial release has been used as a recognized medical therapy for at least 30 years. 





Myofascial release of the wrist and forearm is a therapist's "first line" of defense to eliminate carpal tunnel symptoms. The reason that it's particularly good for carpal tunnel pain is because it attacks the source of the disorder. 


Specifically, myofascial release breaks-up restrictions or tissue adhesions in and around the tendons inside your wrist joint. It targets adhesions in the fascia (see below).


These adhesions cause tendon inflammation and swelling. Such swelling is the underlying reason you get carpal tunnel symptoms.


 Want to know how severe your carpal tunnel really is?

 Take this 60 second Quiz designed by Dr. Z.

A pomegranate has an internal structure like human fascia.

First, what is fascia?

Having myofascial release massage performed on your wrist area can be a little painful at first if you have carpal tunnel syndrome. But if you understand why it hurts it a bit, then you’ll happily let your therapist “go for it” rather than undergoing the alternative of carpal tunnel surgery.

Myofascial release massage works as well (and often better than) surgery for resolving carpal tunnel symptoms like:

It’s smart to understand what exactly has gone wrong inside your wrist and hand, and why skillful massage can resolve it. It all begins with understanding fascia.


Basically, fascia is a network of internal tissues which connect structures inside the body. It surrounds all cells, bones, tendons, muscles, blood vessels, nerves, and organs - essentially everything!


It’s much like the pomegranate pictured above. The seeds represent organs, muscles, nerves, etc. The white fibrous material in between the seeds represents the fascia. Everything is connected to everything else by the fibrous fascia network.

Microscopic image of adhesions in tissues.

Fascia can become damaged just like any other body part. Trauma like disease, overuse, and repetitive stress commonly cause injury to this crucial connective network.


Naturally, your body tries to heal the damage. In turn, the healing processes can lead to "scarring". This is what causes the adhesions and restrictions -- a hardening of the fascia, which makes it less supple.


As it hardens, the fascia pulls and tugs on neighboring tissues. This results in pain.


When the fascia tugs on the tendons deep inside the wrist joint, the tendons react with inflammation and swelling. The swelling pushes on (and compresses) the adjacent median nerve. This is what produces the characteristic signs of carpal tunnel syndrome.

Bearded man shows concern in his face.

What does myofascial release massage do to fascia?

The cornerstone of all carpal tunnel syndrome treatments is to relieve pain by “releasing” the adhesions and restrictions caused by stiffened fascia. This releases pressure on the median nerve, and thus, symptoms dissolve.


In the 1940’s, doctors thought fascia mostly surrounded muscle. And the Greek word for muscle is "myo". So the technique was named "myo"-fascial release massage.


Today, myofascial release massage is a hands-on therapy applied to the skin over any affected area. The practitioner works the fascia in opposing directions, creating a "dough kneading" effect. This releases adhesions and restrictions below the skin.


As restrictions loosen, so does pressure from pain-sensitive tissues like nerves and blood vessels. The release of pressure and restrictions restores proper tissue alignment.


The technique is so effective in treating carpal tunnel syndrome that the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) recommends it as effective medicine for carpal tunnel syndrome. And pain medicine practitioners call it “the medicine of the 21st century.”


That’s a lot of authoritative praise for a technique few pain sufferers know anything about.

A doctor performs myofascial release massage on a patient.

And it’s not just for carpal tunnel!

Myofascial release for carpal tunnel is not its only application. Here’s a short list of other debilitating conditions myofascial release massage is great for resolving:

 

Conclusion

Myofascial release for carpal tunnel syndrome is the usual "go-to" treatment of therapists. Why? Because this remedy goes to the source of the problem: it breaks up adhesions and loosens restrictions around the flexor tendons. This, in turn, permanently reduces tendon inflammation and swelling.


As a result, pressure is relieved from the median nerve. And as the nerve decompresses, it no longer gives you the pain, numbness, tingling or other unpleasant symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. Essentially, all symptoms are eliminated with this remedy. And no surgery is ever required.


The downside to myofascial release massage is that if must be administered at least once daily, for a 15 minute session, and for approximately 4 weeks. But this dedicated regimen will provide symptoms relief in even the most severe cases of carpal tunnel syndrome.

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