By Dr. William Booker, D.C. and Dr. Ed Beck, DC

WHAT IS CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME (CTS)?

e Mayo Clinic deﬁnes Carpal Tunnel Syndrome as “a vague aching in your wrist that can extend to your hand or forearm. Other symptoms include: tinglingor numbness, pain radiating or extending up the arm from the wrist, or a sense of weakness in your hands or ﬁngers.

THE CAUSE OF CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME (CTS)

Most commonly, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome has been linked to pressure on themedian nerve, a nerve that originates in the neck and passes down the arm, as itpasses into the wrist.“Generally speaking, Carpal Tunnel has loosely been associated with any pain, weakness or sensation involving the wrist and hands.”

WHY TRADITIONAL TREATMENTS HAVE NOT PRODUCED LONGTERM BENEFITS IN MANY CARPAL TUNNEL PATIENTS?

Traditional therapy for Carpal Tunnel has been broken into two categories:— Non-Surgical— Surgical

Non-surgical methods

typically include wrist splinting, anti-inﬂammatory drugs, and corticosteroids.

Surgery

usually involves cutting into the carpal ligament, and releasing any nervepressure in the wrist caused by the carpal ligament.But according to most critical medical literature, surgery only produceslong-term beneﬁts in only 50-60% of patients. So why have the traditionalmethods of treating Carpal Tunnel Syndrome achieved such mediocre results?As mysterious as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome may seem, there are two very basicreasons for mediocre results achieved with medication and surgery.

Active ReleaseTechnique

Athletic Injuries &Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Dr. William Booker D.C.

Dr. William Booker D.C. holds aDoctorate of Chiropractic from theCleveland College of Chiropractic,Los Angeles. He completed hisundergraduate studies at theUniversity of Virginia, where hegraduated with a major inpsychology and a minor in Biology.After completing his internship inPhiladelphia, Dr. Booker relocatedto Arlington to open the ﬁrstCapitol Rehab inside of Gold’sGym. Dr. Booker establishedCapitol Rehab-Arlington as theﬂagship for what would be theeventual opening of eightadditional Capitol Rehabs locatedthroughout Virginia, West Virginiaand Maryland.

Capitol Rehab of Arlington : 801 N. Quincy, Suite 130 : Arlington, VA 22203 : 703.527.5492 : @capitolrehab : drbooker@capitolrehab.com

July 1, 2010

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a mechanical problem, not a chemical problem.

Essentially, CTS is caused by a physical entrapment of the nerve, usually by atightened or restricted ligament or muscle. Drug therapy, and/or chemicalintervention

rarely

create any lasting changes in these tight or restricted muscles.2.

Perhaps more important:

Sensations in the hand, wrist or forearms can becaused by several nerves,

not just the median nerve

, and the entrapment canoccur in

several diﬀerent places

including the neck, shoulder, elbow and/or wrist. To assume the only entrapment arises in the wrist ignores several other locations,and numerous possibilities for the cause of the problem.

WHAT SHOULD MY DOCTOR LOOK FOR IF I THINK I HAVE CTS?

Treatment of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome begins with a proper assessment of any and all nerve entrapments of the arm and hand. Your doctor must be able toassess entrapments of the following regions:1. Radial Nerve2. Ulnar Nerve3. Median Nerve

Radial Nerve Entrapment

Usually produces sensations into the back of the hand along the thumb and thefirst two fingers. e radial nerve can become entrapped in up to 7 differentlocations through the shoulder (axilla), elbow, forearm and hand.

Ulnar Nerve Entrapment

Usually involves the little ﬁnger, part of the 4th digit and along the inside of theforearm. Entrapments can occur in up to 6 diﬀerent locations through theshoulder (axilla), elbow, forearm and hand.

Median Nerve Entrapment

Usually involves the palm of the hand along the thumb and first 2-3 fingers.Entrapments can occur in up to 5 different locations through the shoulder(axilla), elbow, forearm and hand.Once a proper diagnosis of the nerves and affected regions has been determined,a non-invasive, soft tissue technique, like Active Release can effectively reducethe adhesions along the involved nerve.

WHAT IS ART OR ACTIVE RELEASE?

ART is a patented, state of the art approach developed by Dr. Michael Leahy fortreating soft tissues, in particular, repetitive stress and overuse injuries, like CTS.

WHY DOES ACTIVE RELEASE WORK?

When a person has a biomechanical ﬂaw or an overuse syndrome involving the wrist, hand and arm, a repetitive stress injury of the soft tissues can occur. eend result is the production of a tough, thick scar tissue to the aﬀected area. Asscar tissue develops, muscles become weaker, tendons become irritated and nerves

Dr. Edward Beck, D.C.

Dr. Beck received his doctorate inchiropractic from PalmerChiropractic College in Davenport,IA. He completed his Bachelors ofScience degree from ConcordiaUniversity in Exercise Sciencemajoring in Adapted PhysicalActivity. While at Concordia hevolunteered with differentorganization from the YMHA to theGolden Age Association.After completion of his doctoratedegree he worked in Winamac,Indiana with a practice specializingin the Gonstead system ofchiropractic. Dr. Beck hascompleted many hours ofcertiﬁcation from the Gonsteadseminar based in Chicago, IL.