We often think of chiropractic care and physiotherapy as being intended to help people injured in an auto accident or to help athletes improve their performance.
However, chiropractic care and physiotherapy can help treat and prevent a very common chronic workplace injury: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
Understanding Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a common workplace injury that occurs in almost every workplace. People who perform repetitive tasks in the workplace are most at risk from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
This can include cashiers, who spend most of the day using a cash register, or office workers who use a keyboard all day, every day.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome generally manifests itself as numbness and pain in the wrist, hands, and fingers. In extreme cases fine motor skills may be affected, and even loss of muscle and tissue mass.
Poor posture combined with repetitive motions can impact and crush the nerves as they pass through the wrist towards the fingers. Headaches and neck and shoulder pain can also be connected with numbness in the hands and fingers.
Ultimately, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is connected to our posture: how we stand or sit at work, and the alignment of our arms, elbows and wrists.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: a Common Scourge of Working Life
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a chronic disease that is not well-understood. Many people learn to live with the pain, numbness, and discomfort. Since we all need to work, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome becomes just a part of working life.
However, chiropractors and physiotherapists can help relieve Carpal Tunnel Syndrome while providing advice and strategies for reversing or avoiding the symptoms.
The advice and strategies can include specific recommendations for how to sit or stand at work, and cognitive techniques for ensuring you will successfully change the bad habits that led to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in the first place.
Get Help for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome with Your Extended Health Plan
Luckily, many employer-sponsored benefit plans include visits with physiotherapists and chiropractors that can provide rapid diagnosis and relief from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, and can even help diagnose the warning signs of this common disease.
Most employer-sponsored healthcare plans are up for renewal at the end of 2014. Need help deciding what you need? Call 250 727 3737 Ext. 2 or email [email protected] and we can help!
