Dr. John Phelts sees a lot of people troubled with carpal tunnel syndrome in our busy New York chiropractic practice. While some people think that the source of this wrist-related pain is muscular, it's really a condition that stems from the nerves--and not just the nerves in your hands.

Recent research printed in the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy evaluated 71 women between the ages of 35 and 59 who were diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome. Upon studying the subjects' neck range of motion, the researchers discovered that the women had reduced cervical flexibility when compared to a healthy control group.

In addition, it was also found that the degree of the women's reported carpal tunnel pain was linked to the lateral flexion of the cervical spine. In other words, the less mobility in the neck, the greater the level of pain.

This research is very important, as you cannot successfully address a problem until you fully understand its source. By realizing that the root of carpal tunnel symptoms is in the neck, this means that natural approaches like chiropractic can often restore normal function, reducing the need for risky surgery.

If you are suffering from carpal tunnel pain, call our New York office and ask how carpal tunnel specialist Dr. John Phelts can help you get relief!

Studies

De-la-Llave-Rincon A et al. (2011, May). Women with carpal tunnel syndrome show restricted cervical range of motion. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy;41(5):305-10.
Simon H. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. University of Maryland Medical Center. Updated May 6, 2012. Retrieved from https://umm.edu/health/medical/reports/articles/carpal-tunnel-syndrome on November 2, 2015.