STUDY DESIGN: A case control, blinded study.
OBJECTIVES: To compare the amount of cervical range of motion in women with minimal, mild/moderate, and severe carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) to that of healthy control participants. We also assessed the relationships between cervical range of motion and clinical variables related to the intensity and temporal profile of pain within each CTS group.
BACKGROUND: It is plausible that the cervical spine may be involved in individuals with CTS. No study has investigated the relationship between cervical range of motion and symptoms associated with CTS severity.
METHODS: Cervical range of motion was assessed in 71 women with CTS (18 with minimal, 18 with mild/moderate, and 35 with severe signs and symptoms) and in 20 similar, healthy women. Those with CTS were aged 35 to 59 years (mean ± SD, 45 ± 8 years) and those in the healthy group were aged 31 to 60 years (45 ± 8 years). An experienced therapist, blinded to the participants’ conditions, used a cervical range-of-motion (CROM) device to assess cervical range of motion. Mixed-model analyses of variance (ANOVAs) were conducted to evaluate the differences in cervical range of motion among the 3 groups of patients with CTS and healthy controls. A corrected P value of less than .025 was used as threshold for significance (Bonferroni correction).
RESULTS: The mixed-model ANOVAs revealed that the individuals with CTS exhibited restricted cervical range of motion compared to healthy controls (P<.001), with no significant differences among the groups with minimal, mild/moderate, or severe CTS (P>.356). A significant negative correlation between pain intensity and cervical spine lateral flexion away from the affected side was identified: the greater the mean pain intensity, the lesser the cervical lateral flexion away from the affected side.
CONCLUSIONS: Women with minimal, mild/moderate, or severe CTS exhibited less cervical range of motion compared to women of a similar age, suggesting that restricted cervical range of motion may be a common feature in individuals with CTS, independent of severity subgroups, as defined by electrodiagnosis. Future research should investigate cervical range of motion as a possible consequence or causative factor of CTS and related symptoms.
Source: http://www.jospt.org/issues/articleID.2575,type.2/article_detail.asp
David P. Chen, D.C.
Chiropractor
Laurel, MD 20708
Laurel Regional Chiropractic
Showing posts with label wrist pain. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wrist pain. Show all posts
Monday, June 6, 2011
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Golf Injury Prevention
There are three phases to the golf swing, each of which can cause injury if executed incorrectly. Additionally, there are specific exercises you can perform to help reduce your risk of hurting yourself during that particular swing phase.
Phase 1: Take-Away. The take-away consists of the set-up movement to the top of the back swing. During this phase, the most common potential injuries involve the thumb and wrist, particularly on the lead hand. Here is an effective workout for the muscles of the wrist, hand and forearm. To begin, stand with your feet shoulder-width apart holding a 5-pound dumbbell in your right hand. Keeping your arm to your side and using only your wrist, raise the dumbbell as high as you can and lower it as far as you can. Do two sets of 12 reps. Next, do another two sets of 12 reps, but while moving your wrist from side to side as far as you can. Repeat this entire workout with the dumbbell in your left hand.
An advanced workout for your wrists would be to take a barbell/dumbbells with a weight you can handle, anywhere from 10-45 pounds, and do three exercises back to back to back without rest. Start with your feet shoulder width apart and grab the weight with your hands facing down, shoulder-width apart, held which each thumb. Reverse-curl the weight up toward your body, flexing the forearm as you finish the movement at the top. Do 10 reps.
Phase 2: Impact. The next phase of the swing is the impact, which consists of the downswing and impact with the ball. The most common injuries during this phase are attributable to stress on the back knee and compression forces acting on both wrists. Additionally, the lead elbow and hand/wrist are often hurt during impact.
In terms of exercises that can help prevent these injuries, leg extensions/leg curls and abduction/adduction exercises (almost all fitness clubs have equipment for these types of exercises), along with regular stretching and massage, are extremely effective for the legs. Triceps pushdowns using a reverse grip with the hands facing up is an excellent exercise for the triceps and will help to prevent injury to the elbows. High-intensity training (one set to muscle exhaustion for each exercise, using slow, deliberate movements) works well and is a safe method of training for all the exercises above. For the legs, do 12-15 reps; for the triceps/elbows, do 8-12reps.
Phase 3: Follow-Through. Finally, there is the follow-through after impact. During this phase there is abdominal torque and risk of spinal injury. I recommend training the oblique muscles (essentially the sides of the abdomen) using a trunk rotation machine, twisting slowly in a circular fashion for 12-15 reps, and a lower back extension machine for 12-15 reps. Do not use heavy weights for these exercises and make sure to do them slowly and eliminate momentum. These exercises will help strengthen the core muscles and help prevent back injuries.
Source: To Your Health, February 16, 2010 [Volume 4, Issue 5]
Dr. David Chen
Chiropractor in Laurel, MD
Laurel Regional Chiropractic
Phase 1: Take-Away. The take-away consists of the set-up movement to the top of the back swing. During this phase, the most common potential injuries involve the thumb and wrist, particularly on the lead hand. Here is an effective workout for the muscles of the wrist, hand and forearm. To begin, stand with your feet shoulder-width apart holding a 5-pound dumbbell in your right hand. Keeping your arm to your side and using only your wrist, raise the dumbbell as high as you can and lower it as far as you can. Do two sets of 12 reps. Next, do another two sets of 12 reps, but while moving your wrist from side to side as far as you can. Repeat this entire workout with the dumbbell in your left hand.
An advanced workout for your wrists would be to take a barbell/dumbbells with a weight you can handle, anywhere from 10-45 pounds, and do three exercises back to back to back without rest. Start with your feet shoulder width apart and grab the weight with your hands facing down, shoulder-width apart, held which each thumb. Reverse-curl the weight up toward your body, flexing the forearm as you finish the movement at the top. Do 10 reps.
Phase 2: Impact. The next phase of the swing is the impact, which consists of the downswing and impact with the ball. The most common injuries during this phase are attributable to stress on the back knee and compression forces acting on both wrists. Additionally, the lead elbow and hand/wrist are often hurt during impact.
In terms of exercises that can help prevent these injuries, leg extensions/leg curls and abduction/adduction exercises (almost all fitness clubs have equipment for these types of exercises), along with regular stretching and massage, are extremely effective for the legs. Triceps pushdowns using a reverse grip with the hands facing up is an excellent exercise for the triceps and will help to prevent injury to the elbows. High-intensity training (one set to muscle exhaustion for each exercise, using slow, deliberate movements) works well and is a safe method of training for all the exercises above. For the legs, do 12-15 reps; for the triceps/elbows, do 8-12reps.
Phase 3: Follow-Through. Finally, there is the follow-through after impact. During this phase there is abdominal torque and risk of spinal injury. I recommend training the oblique muscles (essentially the sides of the abdomen) using a trunk rotation machine, twisting slowly in a circular fashion for 12-15 reps, and a lower back extension machine for 12-15 reps. Do not use heavy weights for these exercises and make sure to do them slowly and eliminate momentum. These exercises will help strengthen the core muscles and help prevent back injuries.
Source: To Your Health, February 16, 2010 [Volume 4, Issue 5]
Dr. David Chen
Chiropractor in Laurel, MD
Laurel Regional Chiropractic
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