Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common condition that affects the hand and wrist, causing pain, tingling and weakness. It happens when the median nerve, which runs from the forearm down into the hand, gets squeezed in the carpal tunnel — a narrow passageway in the wrist. This pressure can cause numbness, pain, and difficulty using your hand for simple tasks like typing or holding objects.
Carpal tunnel syndrome can be caused by a variety of factors, including:
Repetitive movements for long periods of time
Wrist injuries
Arthritis
Diabetes
Pregnancy
When the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome become severe, and other conservative treatments like wearing a wrist brace or taking medicine aren’t effective, surgery may be needed. But what happens after carpal tunnel surgery, and how can physical therapy help?
Carpal tunnel surgery and its effects
Carpal tunnel surgery, sometimes called “carpal tunnel release,” is done to help relieve pressure on the median nerve by cutting the ligament that’s pressing on it. This can be done either through a traditional open surgery or a smaller, less invasive endoscopic surgery.
Even though carpal tunnel surgery can help relieve symptoms, it’s still a significant procedure. After surgery, you may experience swelling, stiffness and weakness in your hand and wrist. It can take some time to fully recover and be able to use your hand for everyday activities again. You may also notice that the area around your surgery site feels tight or restricted due to scar tissue.
That’s where physical therapy can make a big difference in your recovery journey. The goal of physical therapy after carpal tunnel surgery is to help you regain the strength, flexibility and movement in your hand and wrist.
Why is physical therapy important after carpal tunnel surgery?
Physical therapy is crucial for a successful recovery after carpal tunnel surgery. While the surgery itself reduces pressure on the nerve, physical therapy focuses on helping your hand and wrist heal properly and return to normal function. Without therapy, you may continue to struggle with stiffness and pain or have a hard time moving your hand.
Through a personalized treatment plan, physical therapy can help you:
Slowly rebuild strength
Improve your range of motion
Reduce any lingering pain or swelling
This personalized approach helps ensure that your recovery is safe and effective.
Another reason physical therapy is important is that it can help prevent future problems. For example, if your hand and wrist don’t heal properly, you may start using other parts of your body, like your shoulder or arm, in ways that can lead to new issues. Physical therapy teaches you how to move in healthy ways to avoid this.
Benefits of physical therapy after carpal tunnel surgery
There are many benefits to doing physical therapy after carpal tunnel surgery, including:
Faster recovery — Physical therapy can help speed up healing by boosting blood flow, reducing swelling, and helping you regain strength and flexibility in your hand and wrist.
Better range of motion — After surgery, you may experience stiffness in your hand and wrist. Physical therapy helps gently stretch and strengthen these areas, helping you move more easily.
Pain relief — Physical therapy can help reduce postsurgical pain through different techniques like soft tissue mobilization and electrical stimulation, making your recovery more comfortable.
Scar tissue management — After surgery, scar tissue can form around the area, limiting movement and causing discomfort. Physical therapists use hands-on techniques to break down scar tissue and improve flexibility.
Future injury prevention — Strengthening the muscles in your hand and wrist can help prevent future problems, like reinjury or recurring symptoms.
Physical therapy techniques for carpal tunnel surgery recovery
Your physical therapist knows a wide range of therapeutic techniques and will choose the best ones to help you recover after your carpal tunnel surgery. Each technique chosen is designed to help improve strength, flexibility and overall function in your hand and wrist. Here are some techniques your physical therapist may include in your personalized recovery treatment plan:
Therapeutic exercises — Your physical therapist will choose targeted exercises to help stretch and strengthen the muscles in the hand, wrist and forearm. Stretching helps improve flexibility, while strengthening exercises build muscle to support healthy movement. The exercises may also include activities that help improve your fine motor skills.
Manual therapy — Manual therapy refers to hands-on techniques your physical therapist uses to improve flexibility, reduce pain and break down scar tissue after surgery. Specific types of manual therapy for carpal tunnel surgery recovery include:
Soft tissue mobilization — Soft tissue mobilization involves applying firm, gentle pressure to the soft tissue around the wrist and the hand. The goal is to help reduce muscle tightness, relieve pain and improve blood flow, which can boost the healing process. Soft tissue work can also help break down scar tissue that may form after surgery, preventing it from restricting movement or causing discomfort.
Joint mobilization — Joint mobilization involves the gentle manipulation of the wrist joint to improve its range of motion, which can be especially helpful if you experience stiffness or have a hard time moving your wrist after surgery. This technique can help improve the flexibility of the surrounding structures and allows for smoother movement.
Electrical stimulation — Electrical stimulation involves your physical therapist placing electrodes around the affected area. These electrodes deliver low-level electrical currents to stimulate the muscles, boost circulation, promote healing and reduce pain.
Let KC Rehab support you every step of the way on your carpal tunnel surgery recovery journey
At KC Rehab, we understand how important it is to recover fully and comfortably after carpal tunnel surgery. Our compassionate and comprehensive physical therapy services are designed to meet your unique needs and recovery goals. With expert care and personalized treatment plans, we can help you regain strength, mobility and function in your hand and wrist so you can return to your daily activities with confidence.
Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.
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