The carpal tunnel is formed by the little bones in your wrists (carpals). It is literally a tunnel made of bones that tendons, nerves, and blood supply pass through. These bones are surrounded by a "bracelet" of connective tissue. Overuse, repetitive motions, and prolonged stress can cause the connective tissue and muscles of the forearm to get tight. When that happens, the bones of the wrists are affected, the carpal tunnel narrows, and this causes impingement of the nerves and blood supply to the hand and fingers, causing tingling, numbness, weakness, and loss of function.
Massage can be effectively combined with stretching, strengthening exercises, and self care to relieve or eliminate the pain of carpal tunnel syndrome. The effects of deep tissue techniques used on the forearm flexor muscles (those muscles on the soft inside part of the forearm) include:
- the muscle and connective tissue tension is relieved;
- tissues, including muscle, then receive more oxygen;
- waste products that have accumulated in tissues are flushed out;
- muscle and connective tissue becomes more flexible;
- the ligament "bracelet" surrounding the wrist becomes more flexible;
- the carpal bones are less compressed; and
- pain is significantly decreased.