Carpal tunnel syndrome is when a nerve in your wrist gets squashed.
There’s a small tunnel in your wrist (called the carpal tunnel) that your nerves and tendons pass through. One important nerve — the median nerve — gives feeling to your thumb and fingers. If this tunnel gets tight or swollen, it puts pressure on the nerve.
What it feels like:
Tingling or “pins and needles” in your thumb and fingers
Numbness (like your hand has fallen asleep)
Pain in your wrist or hand, sometimes going up your arm
Weakness or dropping things
When it’s worse:
At night (can wake you up)
When using your hands a lot (typing, gripping, phone use)
Why it happens:
Repetitive hand/wrist use (eg tennis, office work)
Poor wrist position (bent for long periods; eg typing, painting)
Swelling (e.g. pregnancy, injury)
How can our Physios help?
Physiotherapists help by reducing pressure on the nerve and improving how your hand and wrist move.
Education & activity changes: Show you how to avoid positions and tasks that irritate the nerve (e.g. prolonged wrist bending, poor desk setup)
Splinting advice: Recommend a wrist splint (especially at night) to keep the wrist in a neutral position
Exercises:
Nerve gliding (to help the nerve move freely)
Tendon gliding (reduce stiffness in the tunnel)
Strengthening (hand, wrist, and forearm)
Manual therapy: Techniques to improve wrist and soft tissue mobility
Pain management: Advice on load management and symptom control
Goal:
👉 Reduce symptoms, improve function, and avoid the need for injections or surgery where possible.
References:
Ballestero-Pérez., R et al. (2017). Effectiveness of nerve gliding exercises on carpal tunnel syndrome: A systematic review. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 40(1), 50–59. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmpt.2016.10.004
Kim, S. D. (2015). Efficacy of tendon and nerve gliding exercises for carpal tunnel syndrome: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Journal of Physical Therapy Science, 27(8), 2645–2648. https://doi.org/10.1589/jpts.27.2645
Gräf, M., et al. (2022). Physiotherapy and sports therapeutic interventions for treating carpal tunnel syndrome: A systematic review. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 11(13), 3709. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11133709
O’Connor, D., Marshall, S., & Massy-Westropp, N. (2003). Non-surgical treatment (other than steroid injection) for carpal tunnel syndrome. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2003(1), CD003219. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD003219
