Carpal Tunnel Syndrome can benefit a LOT from therapeutic massage. There are many types of massage and some will help relieve Carpal Tunnel Syndrome more than others.
Here’s some background on massage:
- Massage is old and powerful medicine.
- Massage is all-natural and has no side effects
(although you might have some tenderness following the first
session or two). - Massage costs much less than surgery and many drugs.
- It works well and can make a big difference in pain and dysfunction.
- Almost anyone can give massage with just a little training and practice. You can even do it yourself!
- Sadly, little is known about it by doctors who have gone to medical schools which promote the use of medicines and surgery rather than natural therapies like hands-on massage. (That would be most doctors and medical schools.)
Massage helps your muscles get back into their original condition, supple and movable, as they are supposed to be. It relieves the tension in muscles from overuse. It helps weakened muscles regain tone.
Massage also boosts your immune system and this has been documented with honest-to-goodness medical research. Someone with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome almost always benefits from
correct forms of massage by the hands of a skilled therapist!
Types of massage you might find when you’re looking for carpal tunnel pain relief.
1. Energetic massage (energy work) which touches very lightly if at all. Also called “near touch.” May be relaxing but doesn’t physically get “into” muscles and soft tissues.
2. Relaxation or stress-reduction massage. Pressure may be very light or medium; depends on the training and skill level of the therapist. Usually a general, all-over massage which probably won’t help relieve much discomfort.
3. “Deep tissue” massage. Depending on the practitioner, this is deeper pressure into the muscles and soft tissue. Depending on his or her skill level, they may or may not work in the areas that you need treated to relieve your carpal tunnel symptoms. Deep doesn’t mean better. It’s often provided to the wrong areas–those that are complaining rather than those are are causing the symptoms.
4. Sports massage looks to the muscles that an athlete uses in his or her sport. Can be helpful for pain relief depending on practitioner.
5. Hellerwork or Rolfing are systems that seek to correct muscle imbalances through pressure and massage. Can be helpful for pain relief.
6. Neuromuscular Massage Therapy (NMT) is a specialty devoted to correcting muscular imbalances and dysfunctions. There are different forms; all may be more effective at pain relief than most other types of massage because they look for the cause of pain and treat the cause. Also, Neurosomatic Massage Therapy.
7. Trigger point massage looks to symptoms to determine which trigger points to treat. Many therapists and doctors do not fully understand trigger points; they think that any tender area is a trigger point. This isn’t true. Trigger points can refer nearby or cause referrals at a distance, like from neck to hand.
8. Pressure point massage seeks to release tight muscles through deep pressure into tight areas. May or may not be helpful, depending whether practitioner seeks out areas that are causing pain or just works on painful symptom areas.
9. Swedish massage may be relaxing or deeper and therapeutic, depending on the therapist’s understanding of body and skill.
There are massage therapists who have taken lots of advanced training and who use more than one technique. And, as in every other field, some massage practitioners are excellent, some are good and some are so-so.
There is a lot more information about massage right here.
If you scroll through the Categories to the Massage Category you will find articles that will help you learn self-massage techniques. You will also learn how to find a professional massage therapist who can help you get carpal tunnel pain relief.
I’ve included a simple massage video in Carpal Tunnel Natural Relief, an easy-to-use self-help program that I created just for you. Click the link to discover more about getting rid of your carpal tunnel symptoms naturally and forever!