Carpal Tunnel Exercises #1

[URehab]

You can do a search online for Flextend or go to repetitive-strain . com. The sales code XMAS2010 will save you 25%. Performing these exercises and stretches will allow you to keep working while you address the condition, but starting at weeks 3-4 you will need to use it 3x daily instead of the 2x daily until your symptoms are gone and then you can just revert to a maintenance program.

[Theperfectone32114]

Where can you purchase that black workout glove your using in the video? I work in the laundry room at a hotel, and all I do, is fold laundry everyday for two hotels. I do hundreds of towels, wash clothes, hand towels, pillow cases, and sheets daily with only two days off per week. My hurts bad, leading pains extending up to my elbow. How would I go about correcting this doing this type a work 8hrs a day, with two days of rest time?

[mit871chell]

What about Starcraft hands?

[URehab]

@mit871chell

I don't know what that is, please explain.

[mit871chell]

@mit871chell Its the most difficult Real Time Strategy game, in Korea its their national sport. It requires you to do 200-300 action per minute [apm], using a mouse an keyboard its very stressful on the hands.

/watch?v=YbpCLqryN-Q  That's what people are doing while playing the game.

[URehab]

@mit871chell

I watched the clip and that is insane! I've never seen anything like it! I deal with professional musicians that use Flextend for performance enhancement purposes because they can play piano and guitar much faster, plus reduce the chances of getting injured. And all I have to say is that whoever plays these games undoubtedly needs to use it!

[mit871chell]

@URehab You could try getting in contact with some pro gamers to provide sponsorship. The most popular team outside of the South Koreans is Teamliquid their contact form can be found at

teamliquid (net) /contactus.php

I'm sure you're capable of figuring out the website from that.

The pro-gamers you see playing the game usually do suffer from hand injuries related to playing for such a long time. 16-25 age range of the pros.

[URehab]

@mit871chell

Thanks, I appreciate the information and will look into it. I know that gaming is huge, but that was entirely different from anything I've ever seen!

[PFXKaiser]

@URehab ...that type of exercise is incorrect...I know!....It is about stretching with no pressure, the tendons movement swells the congested area and persists.... Warming up is the most important aspect of any physical movement. This guy mentions Tennis Elbow as well...you do not exercise these problems or they will be made worse. . . Stretching. . . is everything. Check out how I can play since having CTS in the 80's...

[URehab]

When addressing a muscle imbalance, if you stretch the short, tight restricted muscles, you will not maintain the length of the muscle that was stretched unless the weak antagonist is exercised / shortened immediately after. Following this process also helps via Reciprocal Inhibition, where the weak muscles are exercised immediately after, causing the restricted muscles to relax, which helps re-establish the length achieved via the stretching. When injured, stretching alone will not fix it.

[SinaloenseGuero]

@PFXKaiser dude you're wrong i did strecthing alone and my hand wouldn't get better so i bought the glove and do the strecths and exercise i bought it a couple weeks ago and it doesn't get numb doesn't hurt doesn;t tingle i started even working out bicep curl chest press ect n no painn it works!! i recommend flextend to anyone suffering cts i use to be misabrle n not sleep the redness is even going away:)))))))))

[PFXKaiser]

I am happy for you, that is great, I really hope you are able to maintain this.

I do not care if I am wrong if you are right It is for you.

The type of stretching involved and your perspective on how you do things is very very important.

I may have to say that if you did normal stretching routines, that would be incorrect

What I had remarked on earlier was not comprehensive in any way. no one asked!

My routines are very specific and mostly hand.

Take Care (Ps. Im 51yrs old)

[SinaloenseGuero]

@PFXKaiser cool great response i hope your hands don't get it cts or anything because my brother is a musican n i played bass i know how it feels having pain n playing good luck. should have asked haha but i thought you did just these :)) thanks take care im 19

[lololol36]

What about Starcraft hands?

mit871chell 3 weeks ago

I found that hilarious as I myself play Starcraft :S

[PFXKaiser]

@mit871chell ....Too much pressure on the controls...Relax and stretch your hand muscles...

[david44454]

@urehab the whole hand , i think its getting worse im massaging it putting ice on it and taking advil

[URehab]

@david44454

With whole-hand numbness, you are either dealing with Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, which can be corrected by strengthening the rear deltoids and back (latissimus dorsi, etc.) or Double Crush Syndrome, where the median and ulnar nerves are being impinged simultaneously at the wrist, elbow, shoulder or cervical spine. Go see your doctor and narrow it down so you know what the "source" of the problem is.

[URehab]

@david44454

If the whole hand is numb, it is not Carpal Tunnel (Median Nerve), unless you are suffering from Guyon's Syndrome or Cubital Tunnel (Ulnar Nerve) along with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. The single condition that causes full-hand numbness is Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, where the Brachial Plexus is impinged in the anterior shoulder /upper pectoral region and clavicle. You had better get a second opinion from a physician and find out what is going on before you do anything else.

[david44454]

i have to write a lot for exams recently at college. 2 times i my hand went numb during exam, then it did again while typing. I found a knot in muscle between pinkey and index finger. it hurts still . am i at risk for carpel tunnel?

[URehab]

@david44454

An adhesion on nodule formed in the hand does not mean that you are prone to getting CTS. Is the entire hand going to sleep or just certain fingers? Also, be sure to get a diagnosis from a physician before doing anything so that you at least know what you are treating.

[EmoBoyVideos]

very cool

[URehab]

@EmoBoyVideos

Glad you like the videos. I need to get on it and make more for shoulder issues.

[bammbamm12]

what's the recovery rate using this method?

[URehab]

@bammbamm12

Very high if you're consistent with the exercises...and certainly higher than non-conservative treatment methods. The mfg. states a success rate of 95% treating symptoms of CTS.

[bammbamm12]

@URehab - Ok thanks - I've had this for over 30 years. I think the horizontal bar began it all. But now, I can't even lean on a handlebar without pain.

[URehab]

@bammbamm12

What often happens is that the injured, weak (Therefore usually longer) extensors are not gliding out of the way when the wrist is moved into either passive or active extension. The result is that the extensor tendons are getting impinged when this occurs and it is very painful and disabling. By strengthening the finger / wrist extensors, the muscles / tendons become shorter and glide out of the way, thus eliminating the condition.

[lezvarthok]

o,O my hand was trembling and shaking and it subsided now and feels warm and comfortable. I dont know if this exercise just like HIT the problem but I already love it.

[inconsistenlycontent]

I just recently got back into lifting and after a month of moving up in weight, I'm experiencing carpal tunnel. I wake up throbbing of dull pain from my elbow down and have numbness of hand and fingers.....it's HORRENDOUS

[URehab]

@inconsistenlycontent

That's common as the heavier the weight, the greater the grip required, resulting in more compression of the carpal tunnel. Just make sure that in every lift you do, keep the wrists in the neutral, straight position (lock them) and allow no flexion or extension of the wrist joint or you will just aggravate the median nerve even further. And correct the muscle imbalance so you can lift without having to worry about your wrist position. Good Luck!

[barelylegalpigeons]

hi, i would really like to purchase the Flextend orthotic glove you use in your video. What sort of store would sell one? Example: "department store," "sports store" "pharmacy" etc. I'd like to do a yellow pages search to see if any stores near my house sell them. I only shop online as an absolutely last resort.

[URehab]

No problem, I'm glad I can help! There are a lot of programmers, designers, musicians, construction workers, housewives and even healthcare professionals that have a lot of hand problems...and without good use of your hands, life can get rough!

FYI - I'll be posting some new COMPLETE programs over the next couple of weeks that should be easy for people to follow and provide faster relief.

[ezgar001]

Thanks a lot my friend, im a programmer and i´ve to use my computer 8 hours each day and that´s not good to my hand´s; with your videos im getting better.

Thanks a lot.

[com4murder2]

Im a tree climber, and i believe im getting carpal tunnel. I was wondering where i could get a glove like that one and about how much they cost? Any help would be nice. Thanks!

[URehab]

Do a search on google, yahoo, etc. for Flextend orthotic glove or you will get products you are not interested in! I believe that you can find a unit that fits both hands for about $100. Good luck!

[URehab]

In 1994 I had bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), which seriously set back my lifting. I began using the Flextend product shown in some of the videos and in 3-4 weeks it was completely gone and I was able to compete in 1995. Of course the more I worked out, the more I had to use the product to maintain the muscle balance in my hands and forearms. (Now I only use it every few months for about a week at a time.) So, yes, you can eliminate CTS and begin bodybuilding again! Stay Positive!

[MooseheadDrinker]

do u have carpal tunnel syndrome? if so, do you still lift weights(looks like u do)? i have CTS and not sure if i should or ever will be able to return to body building....?

[URehab]

Thank you for your question, but I cannot answer you directly. For a diagnosis of your condition, you will need to consult a physican.

The symptoms may be associated with a sprained wrist, the onset of carpal tunnel, etc., as they present themselves as median nerve impingement, but the median nerve can be impinged at the wrist, elbow, shoulder or cervical spine.

If you do have carpal tunnel syndrome / wrist injury, etc., performing the appropriate exercises can help eliminate the disorder.

[SplashdivingCanada]

I have tingling sensations for the past 29 hours stright, in my fist three FINGERTIPS, starting at my thumb.

Do you know why? I have a sprained wrist right now, and how I can get rid of this tingling numb sensation? Thanks alot!

[Valetudo21]

thank you for the information

[URehab]

No problem, I am glad to help anyone that I can! I will be posting more programs for grip-strength, tennis elbow, anterior shoulder impingement syndrome and others in the next couple of months. Thank you for your interest!

[fuzzy232]

how can you tell if you have carpal tunnel syndrom or rsi , as ive had pains in my wrist and aches for over a year now , i have a powerball which helps but i dont use it much.

[URehab]

The symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome consist of tingling, numbness or paresthesia (Pins & needles) affecting the thumb, index, middle and sometimes, one-half of the ring finger. (All fingers do not have to experience symptoms simultaneously)

If you experience pain in the wrist without numbness or tingling in the thumb, index or middle fingers, it is more than likely a general repetitive strain injury. (See following post - Continued)

[URehab]

Continued - People use their hands extensively on a daily basis - performing finger and wrist flexion while typing, text messaging, holding a cell phone, driving, turning a doorknob, you name it.

It is these same activities that cause these repetitive strain injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome. So if the treatment device you are using mimics any of these movements, you will worsen the condition, not make it better!

[fuzzy232]

thanks

[guessagain41]

Since when is carpal tunnel a "muscle imbalance"? Get your anatomy correct.

[URehab]

Carpal tunnel in most cases IS a muscle imbalance (Except, Pregnancy, diabetes, Gout, etc.) between the overused wrist/finger flexors & adductors and underused extensors & abductors. The swelling of the median nerve is a secondary response due to the flexor tendons and median nerve operating in a confined space, resulting in irritation and swelling from increased friction as they slide past each other. University studies validate this info. My anatomy is great, thanks!

[guessagain41]

so you are proposing that the irritation of the tendons and swelling is a result of a flexor extensor adductor/abductor imbalance? so the millions of carpal tunnel surgeries that addressed the carpal and palmar ligaments was also a result of the imbalance? Just curious.

[URehab]

Yes. Surgeons severe the carpal ligament to make room in the carpal tunnel, but why is more room needed? They propose that it is due to the swelling of the median nerve. True, but the swelling is a secondary response of the narrowed carpal tunnel caused by the flexors & the Thenar/Hypothenar muscles crisscrossing the tunnel roof along with the carpal ligament. The muscles pull inward on the carpal bones & ligament, causing friction of flexor tendons & median nerve. Surgery success-43% @ 1yr.

[Haseeb2]

The man in the video is not doing the exercise right. He's supposed to use a velcro strap around his lower bicep to hold the band in place. He has huge arms, but it shouldn't matter.

[URehab]

Thank you for your comments! This is the new Flextend / Restore training system that allows the user to either use the arm strap or use it without. It comes with two different lengths of bands, so that if you hold onto it, you use the short bands and if you use the arm strap, you use the long bands. I honestly prefer to use it with the arm strap as I am so wide that it is a pain to reach across to hold it, but others really love the option to just hold onto it so they can switch hands faster.

[URehab]

A series of Trigger Finger exercises will be posted over the next few weeks. These exercises are simple yet very, very effective. Thank you.

[windgypsydancer]

Please post a trigger finger exercise program that works!!