Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve is compressed at the wrist. The resulting symptoms are experienced as pain, weakness, or numbness in the hand and wrist, radiating up the arm.
Stretching exercises can often help alleviate the symptoms experienced in carpal tunnel syndrome. The exercise described below is specific to the management of patient’s who experience carpal tunnel syndrome.
1) Extend and stretch both wrists and fingers out in front of you (as if you are telling an oncoming car to stop with both hands)
2) Hold for a count of 5 seconds
3) Relax and straighten both wrists out in front of you
4) Now make a tight fist with both hands (arms still extended out in front of your body)
5) Bend down both wrists curling your fists to the floor
6) Hold for a count of 5 seconds
7) Relax and straighten both wrists out in front of you
8) Repeat steps 1 through 7 ten more times
