Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - JP Fitness Forums

Jean-Paul · 01-01-2003, 01:24 AM

I don't have this condition, but I have a couple of clients who have pretty severe cases. I have just about given up trying to help them work through it. One of them just had surgery, but our LMT, Jeff Strain is currently part of a medical study on "active release therapy" as treatment for CTS. If he has good results, any medical studies you see quoted in medical journals could very well be related to Jeff's therapy technique. I have had this technique performed on me for other injuries with incredible results. Has anyone else worked with a therapist certified in this style of massage and rehab? Do any of you have CTS?

chscrew144 · 01-01-2003, 01:39 AM

I dont but I would be interested in hearing of the results of this.

Jean-Paul · 01-01-2003, 01:50 AM

chscrew... You're up late! [img]tongue.gif[/img]

Jean-Paul · 03-06-2003, 01:58 PM

Oh Je-eff... we're waaaaiii-tiiiing [img]tongue.gif[/img]

brb, dc · 04-11-2003, 12:10 PM

Here's my understanding-
The most common presentation of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is the following: Nocturnal pain, paresthesia of the hand, thenar atrophy, weak opponens pollices.

Here's the problem: The palmer branch of the median nerve, the one that is sensory to the thenar doesn't travel through the carpal tunnel. So the surgery is done to cut the tunnel to relieve pressure, they get some relief briefly due to the meds, then the same symptoms return a few weeks later.

Most "Carpal Tunnel Syndromes" are entrapment of the median nerve in a pronator teres spasm, which is why ART has such good results with it. ART helps to relieve the spasm(among other things). . . .no more "carpal tunnel" Tell me this: when getting treated with ART do they focus on the wrist? elbow? shoulder? all three?

Everyones anatomy doesn't follow the book and may have the palmar branch travel through the tunnel. So they may have loss of sensation with true carpal tunnel, and for them ART will not work.

Bill Hartman · 04-20-2003, 10:01 PM

If I may offer some info. I have been a practitioner of ART for about 3 years now with some outstanding success with CTS patients. The real key is to locate where the nerve is entrapped. This is commonly in one or more of 5 places: the ligament of Struthers, pronator teres, pronatore teres/flexor digitorum superficialis, carpal ligament, and the thenar muscles.

While it is a soft-tissue treatment, I would not classify it as massage. It is rather more intense with a "hurts so good" kind of feel (no worse than your big brother giving you an indian burn).

While I use a number of manual techniques in my practice, I would definitely have to say that Active Release Techniques are the more powerful tool in my tool box. It's effectiveness is more often than not immediate with most diagnoses resolving in just a few visits.

If you're interested you can find out more info at www.activereleasetechniques.co m

Bill Hartman, PT, CSCS, ART