Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - Treatment and Condition Flashcards
What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Condition resulting from compression of the Median nn as it passes through the carpal tunnel at the wrist.
resulting in numbness and tingling in the median distribution - lateral 3;5 digits.
What is the Symptom picture of a client with Carpal Tunnel syndrome?
If the pain is unilateral, it is likely the dominant side.
However it is mostly Bilateral.
If there is nocturnal pain, often waking people up.
In later stages pain can not only be local to the wrist, but also in the forearm and even in the shoulder.
What is often overused in clients that have CTS?
The wrist flexors, also presenting with Trigger points.
What anatomically is affected when a client has CTS?
Floor Carpal bones, Roof flexor retinaculum.
Structures that travel through the Carpal Tunnel:
Median nn, 4 tendons of flexor digitorum superficialis, 4 tendons of flexor digitorum profundus and tendon of flexor pollicis longus.
What are Idiopathic causes for CTS?
Causes leading to increase of size of contents through the tunnel include:
Repudiative action of wrist, thickening of the Retinaculum, Systemic conditions such as Diabetes, Hypothyroidism, RA, and pregnancy.
What are causes for CTS leading to decreased canal space that are chronic?
Bony Callus development, Space occupying lesion, Bony changes that occur with RA.
What are causes for CTS that are Acute in nature?
Secondary to trauma, Infection, RA flare up, New activity requiring repetitive actions at the wrist.
What is done when performing AF and PR rom of a client with CTS?
Testing these will reveal a decreased range in flexion and extension and possibly with ulnar deviation.
What is done when testing AR rom of a client with CTS?
If CTS is chronic the wrist flexion is going to be weak.
What special test may be used when testing a client with CTS?
Phalens and reverse phalens are positive.
When assessing deferent sources of wrist pain what do C6-C7 neuropathies and disc lesions do?
Motor weakness in the muscles.
Pain is felt with neck movement and in the neck.
What are sources of pain for a client with CTS with TOS?
Numbness felt in medial forearm and in the middle 2 digits.
What would treatment include for clients with CTS?
If client is in acute flare up of CTS:
MDL, Fascia, Trigger points proximal to the wrist.
If the CTS is chronic:
Fascia, TP’s, and frictions.
