Workplace Injury

Do you have CTS?

~ Dr. Robert Speirs DC ~ Leave a comment

​Carpal Tunnel

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) can be an extremely painful and activity-limiting condition. It affects many people of all ages and genders, though women are affected more often than men. But how do you know if what you are suffering from is truly CTS or if it’s another condition that’s producing the symptoms in your hand or wrist?
Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve is compressed as it passes through the wrist. However, the median nerve travels out of the neck, through the shoulder, elbow, and forearm before it passes through the wrist and into the hand. Pinching of the median nerve ANYWHERE along its course can give rise to the signs and symptoms of CTS including numbness, tingling, and/or pain into the hand and index, third, and thumb-side half of the fourth digits, and sometimes the thumb. If the pinch is significant enough, weakness can also occur. Sometimes the median nerve can become compressed at both the wrist and other body sites as it travels from the spinal cord to your hand, that’s why it’s important for a doctor to check for impingements along the entire course of the nerve.
 
But compression of the median nerve isn’t the only thing that can produce symptoms in the hand. Here are a couple of the more common conditions that are often confused with CTS:
1)  Ulnar neuropathy: This is pinching of the ulnar nerve (at the neck, shoulder, elbow, or wrist) but this gives rise to a similar numbness/tingling BUT into the pinky-side of the fourth and the fifth fingers (not the thumb-side of the hand). The most common pinch location is either at the neck or the inner elbow, the latter of which is called “cubital tunnel syndrome” or CuTS.
 
2)  Tendonitis: There are a total of nine tendons that pass through the carpal tunnel that help us grip or make a fist. Similarly, there are five main tendons on the back side of the hand that allow us to open our hands and spread our fingers. ANY of these tendons can get strained or torn, which results in swelling and pain as well as limited function BUT there is usually NO NUMBNESS/TINGLING!
 
3)  DeQuervain’s disease: This is really a tendonitis of an extensor tendon of the thumb and its synovial sheath that lubricates it resulting in a “tenosynovitis.” This creates pain with thumb movements, especially if you grasp your thumb in the palm of your hand and then bend your wrist sideways towards the pinky-side of the hand.
 
Chiropractors are well-trained to diagnose and treat patients with CTS. And if you don’t have CTS but another condition listed above, they can offer treatment (or a referral, if necessary) to help resolve it so you can return to your normal activities as soon as possible.

Managing Upper Crossed Syndrome with Chiropractic Care and Ergonomic Adjustments

~ Dr. Robert Speirs DC ~ 1 Comment

Your posture is a cornerstone of your overall health, influencing everything from musculoskeletal function to internal organ function. Poor posture can lead to chronic strain and discomfort, affecting your daily life and long-term well-being. One common postural issue is known as “upper crossed syndrome,” characterized by excessive tightness in the shoulders and chest paired with weakness in the neck and mid-back muscles. This imbalance forces the shoulders to roll inward and the head to protrude forward, creating a cascade of negative effects throughout the body.

To grasp how upper crossed syndrome wreaks havoc, envision your spine as a sturdy telephone pole and your head as a heavy bowling ball atop it. When the bowling ball is positioned directly over the pole, minimal effort is needed to maintain balance. However, if the pole tilts forward and the ball threatens to roll off, the muscles must work tirelessly to prevent it from falling. This constant effort places undue strain on the muscles of the neck and upper back, leading to chronic discomfort and potential complications.

The repercussions of upper crossed syndrome extend beyond mere discomfort. It can contribute to a host of issues including neck pain, upper back pain, headaches, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain, and even arthritis over time. This postural distortion is particularly prevalent among individuals who spend prolonged periods at computer workstations, where slouching and forward head posture are common.

Addressing upper crossed syndrome requires a multifaceted approach aimed at correcting muscular imbalances and optimizing workstation ergonomics. Chiropractic care plays a pivotal role in this process, offering targeted interventions to restore postural alignment and alleviate associated discomfort. Through manual adjustments, chiropractors can realign misaligned vertebrae and alleviate pressure on nerves, facilitating improved posture and function.

Additionally, chiropractors provide guidance on stretches and exercises tailored to address muscle tightness and weakness characteristic of upper crossed syndrome. These exercises aim to elongate tight muscles, such as the chest and front shoulder muscles, while strengthening weakened muscles, particularly those in the neck and mid-back. By restoring muscular balance, chiropractic care helps alleviate strain on the spine and promote better postural alignment.

In conjunction with chiropractic interventions, modifying your workstation ergonomics is crucial for preventing and managing upper crossed syndrome. Simple adjustments, such as raising the computer monitor to eye level, using an ergonomic chair with proper lumbar support, and taking regular breaks to stretch and move, can significantly reduce strain on the neck and back muscles.

By addressing the root causes of upper crossed syndrome through a comprehensive approach that includes chiropractic care and ergonomic modifications, you can effectively manage discomfort and prevent long-term complications. Prioritizing good posture and seeking timely intervention from a chiropractor can help you maintain optimal musculoskeletal health and enjoy a more comfortable, pain-free lifestyle.

Chiropractic: High Force / High Repetition Jobs Can Nearly Triple a Worker’s CTS Risk!

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Chiropractic: High Force / High Repetition Jobs Can Nearly Triple a Worker’s CTS Risk!

Previous research indicates that repetitive motions performed at work can increase an individual’s risk for developing carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). An evaluation of data from six different studies found that workers who perform jobs involving high repetition in addition to high forces are as much as 2.95 times more likely to develop CTS than those whose job activities include neither. American Journal of Epidemiology, February 2015

Trigger point pain and the Teres Major muscle.

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The Teres major muscle is located at the back of the armpit. It originates on the posterior aspect of the inferior angle of the scapula, and inserts and inserts on the medial lip of the intertubercular sulcus of the humerus. It’s main function is to assist adduction, internal rotation, and extension of the arm. This muscle only becomes active when there is resistance added to these movements. Trigger point pain from this muscle will cause pain to be felt deep into the posterior shoulder and down the back of the arm.

Tricep trigger points and elbow pain.

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The triceps muscle is the main extensor of the elbow. It is the muscle in the back part of the arm and travels from the shoulder to the elbow. Trigger points in this muscle will cause pain when trying to straighten the elbow. Tricep trigger points refer pain into both the inside and outside of the elbow and are thus a common cause of both tennis and golfers elbow.

Trigger points in the multifidus muscle.

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The multifidus muscle is a long muscle that travels the length of the spine. It has different actions on different parts of the spine. It extends and laterally flexes the cervical and lumbar spine, and rotates the thoracic spine. Trigger points in this muscle are common due to poor posture and bad movement mechanics. Trigger points in the lumbar area area are a common cause of low back pain. These lower points can also refer into the abdomen. Points that form in the cervical region will refer pain down the neck into the shoulder blade area.

Trigger points in the sternocleidomastoid muscles

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The sternocleidomastoid muscles are two strap like muscles located in the front of the neck. They are responsible for producing head movements like flexion, as well as rotating the head to the opposite side. These muscles often become chronically shortened due to poor posture such as sitting in front of a computer screen for to long. When this happens trigger points can form. These points will refer pain into the head, face, and skull producing headaches. Trigger points won’t resolve by themselves, a manual intervention like trigger point massage is required to cause a release.

Trigger points up close.

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trigger points are one of the most common sources of pain in the body. Once a trigger point has formed it won’t release on its own. Trigger point massage is one of the most effective way to release a point. It involves using a deep focused pressure applied directly to the knot. This frees the contracted tissue and stimulates healing.

Trigger point referral patterns.

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Myofascial trigger points form in a muscle due to overload stress. A portion of muscle fibers lock up into a knot. Once formed these points will irritate sensory nerves that are in proximity to the knot. When this happens,

trigger points have the capacity to refer pain along specific distributions or patterns that are well mapped out. sometimes pain may be felt at a great distance away from the actual point itself.