Archive for January, 2012
Why Musicians Seek Chiropractic Care For Relief Of Carpal Tunnel Pain
Since I’d been a guitarist for many years, I was not amazed to findlearn that my technical skills were delicately honed by the time I became a Glendate Chiropractor. Needless to say, my hand coordination was well-developed! I also became aware of the hand conditions that many musicians experience, like carpal tunnel syndrome. In fact, I was not only known as a Glendale Chiropractor, but I became known as “the music doctor” by many musicians who’d heard from other musicians that the chiropractic care I offered could “fix” their hand problems. So many needless and ineffective carpal tunnel surgeries were avoided through chiropractic treatment that at holiday time, I not only got numerous “fruit baskets” from my happy patients, but plenty of “fruitcakes” from overjoyed insurance companies who spent far less each year in compensating for chiropractic treatment than they did for surgical procedures!
Why do so many musicians, especially guitarists and pianists, experience carpal tunnel challenges in particular? Well, the carpal tunnel is located within the underside of the wrist! This “tunnel” or “passage” is the place through which the Median nerve passes on its way to affect and animate the hands and fingers. Nerve entrapment is often the result of the types of repetitive movements performed by many musicians. Not surprisingly, such nerve entrapment disorder is wide spread. The nerve is impinged between other tissues when the size of the tendon enlarges due to irritation and inflammation caused by overuse…long hours of practice, as well as extended performance, are generally the culprits. Plus, such activities can cause a misalignment of the carpal bones. Far too many musicians experience pain, numbness, pins and needles, and tingling in their fingers and hand(s), especially their thumb and adjacent two fingers. Quite a few musicians routinely awaken from sleep with these symptoms. And, the absolutely disastrous effects for musicians is that CTS can make hands feel clumsy or weak, and fatigue easily with activity. If not treated, over time, grasping small objects (like a guitar pick or the bow of a bass) with the thumb and fingers can be extremely affected. And, although the keen musician who has discovered the healing effects of chiropractic care would not allow this to happen, CTS left untreated can lead to complete disability of the hand.
It is highly recommended that musicians, and anyone else suffering from repetitive stress symptoms to try see a chiropractor who understands the symptoms and the solution, like your Glendale chiropractor. You can ask him more about the drug-free, natural approach of chiropractic care. Would you like to find out what chiropractic care can do for you? Then call a chiropractor today!