Carpel Tunnel Syndrome

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Tingling Fingers?

Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs during compression or irritation of the median nerve at the carpal tunnel on the anterior side of the wrist.

This condition is usually the result of repetitive wrist movement, such as regular and prolonged use of a computer mouse or repetitive movements at work. Carpal tunnel syndrome can also occur as a result of trauma or tendinitis of the flexor muscles of the wrist, or during pregnancy due to nerve compression as a result of swelling in the hands.

It is estimated that about 8% of the adult population is affected, making it a relatively common condition. It is the most common compression neuropathy of the upper limb. Women are twice as affected as men.

The nerves of the hand as well as the tendons of the flexor muscles pass to the anterior aspect of the wrist under the transverse carpal ligament that holds them in place. It is the passage formed by the transverse ligament and the bones of the wrist, called carpal bones, that forms the carpal tunnel. The syndrome usually occurs when, for some reason, the space in the carpal tunnel is reduced and the median nerve is compressed.

In some cases, a dysfunction of the cervical spine can cause symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome without repetitive wrist extension motion.

Carpal tunnel syndrome can cause, but is not limited to, numbness and tingling in the first three fingers and half of the fourth, as well as atrophy of the hand muscles. During the night, you may experience pain and numbness from prolonged bending of the wrist. Symptoms are also exacerbated during repetitive activities involving wrist movements.

Chiropractic: Musculoskeletal Pain Affects School Teachers.

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Chiropractic: Musculoskeletal Pain Affects School Teachers.

An assessment of 486 self-evaluation surveys from female school teachers in Saudi Arabia reveals that musculoskeletal pain is surprisingly prevalent in the profession. Their most common complaint was low back pain, followed by knee pain, heel pain, shoulder pain, upper back pain, hip joint pain, ankle pain, and neck pain. Furthermore, nearly half (46.1%) of the teachers surveyed claimed that their pain affected their teaching performance. Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences, November 2014

Mental Attitude: Childhood Neglect May Affect Brain Development.

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Mental Attitude: Childhood Neglect May Affect Brain Development.

A new study finds that severe childhood neglect may cause structural changes to the brain, but early intervention may reverse such alterations. Researchers found that children who remained in institutional care exhibited structural changes in certain areas of the brain’s white matter which facilitate communication between different areas of the brain. However, they found that children who had been moved from institutional care to foster care had white matter similar to that of children who had never been in institutional care, suggesting that the movement to foster care reversed the white matter abnormalities. The researchers write, “Our findings have important implications for public health related to early prevention and intervention for children reared in conditions of severe neglect or adverse contexts more generally.” JAMA Pediatrics, January 2015

Chiropractic: Becoming a Doctor of Chiropractic…

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Chiropractic: Becoming a Doctor of Chiropractic…

To become a licensed Doctor of Chiropractic, an aspiring chiropractor must meet stringent academic and professional requirements. Currently, an individual must complete the following steps to become a licensed chiropractor: complete required general college-level studies, obtain a Doctor of Chiropractic degree and complete a clinical internship through an accredited four-year chiropractic college program, pass the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners’ and/or other state-required examinations, and satisfy any other individual state-specific requirements for licensure, which include mandatory continuing education credits in all but one state. Additionally, a Doctor of Chiropractic can earn additional certifications in areas such as pediatrics, radiology, neurology, nutrition, spinal trauma, and more. National Board of Chiropractic Examiners, August 2014

Health Alert: Mercury Air Pollution = Mercury in Ocean Fish.

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Health Alert: Mercury Air Pollution = Mercury in Ocean Fish.

Researchers from the University of Michigan School of Natural Resources and Environment report that the increasing amounts of mercury measured in ocean fish may be the result of rising mercury levels in the atmosphere. After analyzing past data, investigators found that mercury concentration in ocean fish is rising lockstep with increasing mercury emissions into the air. Assistant researcher Dr. Paul Drevnick warns, “More stringent policies are needed to reduce releases of mercury into the atmosphere. If current deposition rates are maintained, North Pacific waters will double in mercury by 2050.”

Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, February 2015

Carpel Tunnel Syndrome

~ Dr. Robert Speirs DC ~ Leave a comment

Tingling Fingers?

Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs during compression or irritation of the median nerve at the carpal tunnel on the anterior side of the wrist.

This condition is usually the result of repetitive wrist movement, such as regular and prolonged use of a computer mouse or repetitive movements at work. Carpal tunnel syndrome can also occur as a result of trauma or tendinitis of the flexor muscles of the wrist, or during pregnancy due to nerve compression as a result of swelling in the hands.

It is estimated that about 8% of the adult population is affected, making it a relatively common condition. It is the most common compression neuropathy of the upper limb. Women are twice as affected as men.

The nerves of the hand as well as the tendons of the flexor muscles pass to the anterior aspect of the wrist under the transverse carpal ligament that holds them in place. It is the passage formed by the transverse ligament and the bones of the wrist, called carpal bones, that forms the carpal tunnel. The syndrome usually occurs when, for some reason, the space in the carpal tunnel is reduced and the median nerve is compressed.

In some cases, a dysfunction of the cervical spine can cause symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome without repetitive wrist extension motion.

Carpal tunnel syndrome can cause, but is not limited to, numbness and tingling in the first three fingers and half of the fourth, as well as atrophy of the hand muscles. During the night, you may experience pain and numbness from prolonged bending of the wrist. Symptoms are also exacerbated during repetitive activities involving wrist movements.

Wrist Arthritis

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Wrist osteoarthritis is a common health condition characterized by degeneration of cartilage and bone growth.

It is normal to have a mild level of osteoarthritis as you age. However, more pronounced levels of osteoarthritis can lead to pain, swelling and loss of function. Although they can occur without any known particular reason, they most often do as a consequence of trauma such as ligament ruptures or fractures.

Advanced stages of osteoarthritis can affect the ability to perform activities of daily living and sports.

An exacerbation of symptoms generally occurs during a period when the level of physical activity or manual work has been increased drastically.

Wrist osteoarthritis can produce, but is not limited to, local wrist pain, localized swelling and stiffness with wrist movement. A prolonged static position or a sleeping position with direct pressure on the flexed wrist can cause pain.

Each person reacts differently in the presence of osteoarthritis, a progressive condition with no cure. It is possible that the range of motion may decrease over time. An active lifestyle and rehabilitation plan may slow the progression of this condition and make it easier to manage symptoms.

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Turf Toe

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What is Turf Toe?

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Turf Toe is a sprain of the ligaments and irritation of the joint capsule in the big toe following forced and repeated extension movements.

This condition often occurs in athletes using soft sports shoes on a synthetic turf playing surface and accelerating while running.

The severity of the injury can range from a mild stretching to a complete rupture of the capsule and surrounding ligaments. In some cases, this condition can lead to damage to the muscles that flex the big toe. It may also be associated with a small bone tear at the muscle attachment site of these muscles.

Turf Toe can produce, but is not limited to, pain, joint stiffness, difficulty with impact activities such as running, and sometimes localized big toe edema.

Trochanteric Bursitis

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Trochanteric Bursitis: That pain on the outside of your hip…..

Trochanteric bursitis is the irritation of the bursa at the level of the bony prominence of the hip, called the greater trochanter. This bony landmark constitutes an insertion zone for several muscles, including the gluteus medius, the gluteus minimus and the piriformis.

Activities and sports that require repetitive contraction or tensing of these muscles to stabilize the hip can lead to bursa irritation and sometimes inflammation. Trochanteric bursitis can occur following a fall.

The bursa is a thin sac filled with fluid. The trochanteric bursa is located at hip level between the greater trochanter and the tendons of the gluteus medius and minimus muscles and the piriformis. It acts as a lubricant to reduce friction between the muscles and that bony prominence.

Trochanteric bursitis can produce, but is not limited to, pain on the side of the hip, localized edema due to swelling of the bursa, and reduced mobility at the hip.

Trigger Finger

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Trigger finger, also called stenosing tenosynovitis, is a condition in which a finger is locked in a flexed position due to inflammation of the tendon in the sheath that surrounds it, making it difficult for the tendon to glide. It can cause pain over time.

Trigger finger usually occurs on the third or fourth finger as a result of repetitive and excessive hand movements. This condition is found in athletes such as paddlers, tennis players and golfers.
Finger trauma can also damage the tendon and cause trigger finger.

This condition is more common in women than in men and often presents in people between the ages of 30 and 50. An inflammatory health condition such as rheumatoid arthritis or diabetes can increase the likelihood of having a trigger finger.

Trigger finger can cause, but is not limited to, pain and swelling in the affected finger. A clicking sound, sometimes painful, can be heard when the finger moves into a flexed or extended position. Symptoms may worsen in the morning upon rising or after a period of inactivity. In more advanced cases, trigger finger can lead to permanent locking of the joint.

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