ACTIVE P.T. SOLUTION S ...BECAUSE LIFE SHOULD BE ACTIVE APTS Monthly Office Hours: VOLUME VI, ISSUE IX SEPTEMBER 2016 Monday - 8:00am - 5:30pm Tuesday - Wrist Problem or Neck Problem? 8:00am - 7:00pm Wednesday - Carpal tunnel syndrome is one of the and arm pain or tingling. There are When the shoulders round and the most common nerve entrapments of some that get temporary relief but the head shifts forward, the muscles in 8:00am - 5:30pm the upper extremity. It occurs when problem recurs frequently with symp- the neck and shoulders compress Thursday - the median nerve is compressed in toms of higher intensity. Other pa- the nerves that course from the the wrist. However, it is not uncom- tients develop symptoms similar to neck to the hand. The hand re- 8:00am - 5:30pm mon for compression of the median carpal tunnel syndrome following neck quires a stable base at the neck and nerve to occur in several different injury. They may not have had a wrist shoulders in order to function Friday - sites in the forearm. Over the course injury but still experience pain in the properly. Weakness caused by 8:00am - 4:00pm of time, the general population has hand. inactivity and poor posture ulti- come to accept that hand and wrist mately causes the hand and fore- Location: pain, numbness, or tingling adds up to Since the body is a complex network arm muscles to be overworked. carpal tunnel syndrome. In fact, hun- of joints, nerves, ligaments, muscle, This results in “double crush syn- 91 Columbus Street dreds of people each year have wrist and fascia, it is possible that a symp- drome” or nerve compression in Auburn, NY 13021 decompression surgery in hopes of tom from one area of the body may be the neck and shoulders proximally relieving these symptoms. The prob- caused by a problem located in a dif- while also causing compression P: (315) 515-3117 lem with this thought process is that ferent part of the body. This approach distally in the hand and forearm. there are many causes of numbness, to healing is more holistic as opposed This results in tingling, pain or tingling, and/or pain in the hands and to the isolationist approach. Recent numbness in the hand, wrist and fingers. research demonstrates this to be the arm. INSIDE THIS case in patients experiencing symp- ISSUE: Symptoms specific to carpal tunnel toms of carpal tunnel syndrome. Some Before you accept a diagnosis of syndrome most often occur in the studies indicate that it is not uncom- carpal tunnel syndrome, ask your- thumb, index finger, middle finger, mon for symptoms of carpal tunnel self some simple questions: Did Wrist Problem or 1 and half of the ring finger. If you have syndrome may be caused by muscle anyone examine my neck? Was I Neck Problem? symptoms in your fingers but your stiffness in the neck and shoulders given an explanation why my neck little finger is fine, this may be a sign resulting in poor posture, tense mus- was not a cause of my hand symp- Exercise of the 2 that you have carpal tunnel syn- cles, nerve compression, and pain toms? Should I get a second opin- Month: Wrist drome. There are two other periph- traveling down the arm and into the ion? Does the diagnosis of carpal Stretches eral nerves that supply the hand. The hand. tunnel syndrome make sense? ulnar nerve supplies the little finger, Were metabolic causes of carpal Muscle Cramping? It 2 while the radial nerve supplies the While we have created a technologi- tunnel syndrome ruled out, such as Could Be Your Meds backside of the thumb, index and cally advanced society, these advance- diabetes, thyroid disease, and even middle fingers. Nerve roots from the ments have accelerated the aging proc- pregnancy? neck or cervical spine (C6, C7, C8) ess creating chronic postural distor- The Downtown 2 control a different pattern of sensa- tions in even our youngest members. Generally speaking, there are many Auburn Mile 2016 tion in the hand with some overlap. Previous articles in this column were options for the treatment of pa- This is what makes the diagnosis of a focused on “iPosture” and the “effects tients experiencing carpal tunnel- cervical spine problem versus true of sitting”. I would recommend that like symptoms. Do your homework Carpal Tunnel 3 carpal tunnel syndrome so challeng- you read these to complete this arti- and work with healthcare providers Syndrome ing. It is also why it is so important to cles content. In a given day, it is not that share your goals and expecta- answer questions about your symp- uncommon for the majority of the tions. As the patient, it is your right APTS Recipe Box: 3 toms as specifically as possible. The population to go from a car to a desk to choose a physical therapist with Crockpot Dessert diagnosis will sway one way or an- and computer, back to a car, and fi- whom you feel most comfortable Stuffed Apples other based on the answers you nally to a La-Z-Boy. discussing all aspects of your care. provide. Nutrition 101: Health 4 This lack of movement creates a dom- Article by Dale Buchberger, Benefits of Apples Many people who have undergone ino effect, and most relevant to carpal DC, PT, CSCS surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome tunnel syndrome is the rounding of the continue to experience hand, wrist, shoulders and forward head posture. P A G E 2 Exercise of the Month: Wrist Stretches This month’s exercise features “bottom” (palm) side of the you may already feel a stretch two stretches for the wrist that forearm. Stand with your palm just by getting into this position. will help prevent or relieve pain on the table, fingers pointing To increase the stretch, keep in the wrist, elbow, and fore- behind you, and the elbow fully the back of your hand on the arm, especially for those people extended. You may already feel table, elbow extended, and that perform a lot of repetitive a stretch in this position. If not, wrist down, and then lean back motions with their hands. For keep your palm on the table slightly to feel more of a stretch each of these stretches, you’ll and your elbow extended and in the forearm. want to find a table high enough lean back slightly to feel a Hold each stretch for 30 sec- to rest your hand on comforta- stretch in the forearm. onds and perform one stretch bly with your elbow straight. If The second stretch is for the three different times a day to you can’t find one high enough, “top” side of the forearm. Stand keep your wrist, forearm, and you can stack books on a table with the back of your hand on elbow loose and less painful. until you reach a comfortable the table, fingers once again height to perform the exercise. pointing behind you, and the Wrist flexor stretch The first stretch is for the elbow fully extended. Again, (top), wrist extensor stretch (bottom). Muscle Cramping? It Could Be Your Meds Muscle cramps We hear it all the time in our office: “I’ve (used to treat high blood pressure, conges- calcium, stretching properly before exercise, been getting leg cramps a lot lately. Why? tive heart failure, and edema); beta blockers taking a bath with Epsom salt, and icing or And what can I do about them?” Muscle (used to treat high blood pressure and warming the muscle. In most cases, these self- can have many cramps can have many possible causes, abnormal heart rhythm); statins and fibrates care measures are sufficient. But if you con- including dehydration; poor blood circulation (used to treat high cholesterol); beta-2 tinue to experience cramping frequently and possible causes, in the legs; overexertion of the leg muscles agonists (used to treat COPD); ACE inhibi- for no apparent reason, you should talk to while exercising; insufficient stretching; tors (used to treat high blood pressure and your doctor as they could be a sign of a including exercising in the heat; muscle fatigue; CHF); angiotensin II-receptor blockers (used medical problem that requires evaluation and pinched nerves in the neck or back; sitting to treat CAD or heart failure); antipsychot- treatment. If your cramps are medication- medication-related for too long; standing on hard surfaces for ics; Aricept (used to treat Alzheimer’s based, you should consult with your doctor too long; wearing uncomfortable shoes or disease); Evista (an osteoporosis treatment); about the possibility of adjusting the dosage of causes and non- shoes with elevated heels; diabetes; edema in asthma medication; and Tasmar (used to your medication or changing to another type the legs; or a vitamin deficiency, such as treat Parkinson’s disease). of medication or treatment. magnesium, calcium, and/or potassium. They The treatment of muscle cramps not brought Article by Carolyn Collier, PTA medication-related could even be caused as a side effect of some on by medications is as simple as staying drugs, including, but not limited to, diuretics causes. hydrated, eating foods high in magnesium and Downtown Auburn Mile 2016 Downtown The 39th Annual head count of 315 finishers. of under 9 minutes! A.T. Auburn Downtown Auburn Leon Atkins crossed the Walley’s did a fantastic job Mile First Mile sponsored by Ac- finish line first (left) with a with the after party, as well. Place tive Physical Therapy time of 4:31.05! Wow, A huge thank you goes out Finisher Solutions was a success! that’s fast! Dr.