Treating CTS and RSI'S of the Upper Extremity:

• Rest the Affected Area. This is often the first recommendation. Moving the affected area is important in order to maintain range-of-motion (ROM) and reduce muscle atrophy, but avoiding additional stress the joint is equally important.
  
  
• Stretches: Stretching overly tight and restrictive flexor muscles will reduce muscle imbalance and help relieve compression of the median nerve within the carpal tunnel.
  
  
• Exercises: Exercises are very important to restoring muscle balance and reducing compression of the median nerve within the carpal tunnel. Corrective exercises focus on the finger and wrist extensor group, increasing their strength and providing support to the wrist joint.

• FLEXTEND® & the FLEXTEND®-AC , boasts a 90% + success rate. FLEXTEND® and the FLEXTEND®-AC correct muscle imbalances affecting the upper extremity; eliminating the most common factor in the development of carpal tunnel Syndrome and Repetitive Strain Injuries of the fingers, hand, wrist, elbow and shoulder through simple, yet very effective , stretches and exercises. (EXAMPLE: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: FLEXTEND® corrects the muscle imbalance between the strong, tight, restrictive flexor muscles that 'close' the hands and the weak, underdeveloped extensor muscles that 'open' the hands. If the muscle imbalance is corrected, the inflammation subsides and the nerve conduction returns to normal and the symptoms disappear.

• Splints and Braces may help "mask" symptoms for a while, but unless the "real cause" of dysfunction is eliminated, the symptoms come right back. The LONG TERM success rate of Splints is extremely low. Splints/braces should only be used at night while sleeping to keep the hand in the correct neutral / straight position and reduce impingement of the median and/or ulnar nerves.

• Iontophoresis + Splinting: Failure rate is 42.1% in total alleviation from symptoms. Source: Banta, et al, 1994. J Hand Surgery.

• Anti-Inflammatory Medications: are used to reduce swelling and relieve pressure on the median nerve, but again do not correct the underlying cause of dysfunction. (Extended use of Anti-inflammatory medications often leads to irritation of the stomach lining.)

• Wrist Splints and Anti-Inflammatory Medications: Failure rate (Including "partial success" as failure) is 82.6% in total alleviation of symptoms. Curative rate following treatment is 18.4%. Source: Kaplan, et al, 1990. J Hand Surgery.

• Steroid Injections: Injections into the wrist may be prescribed, but are usually painful and not effective. Steroid injections cause the tendons to develop a "rubber-like" consistency, which can easily be damaged further (Usually due to being overstretched), if the individual continues to perform the same tasks that caused the original injury. If steroid injections are utilized, the injury needs to be immediately addressed / corrected through a conservative physical therapy program utilizing stretching and strengthening techniques. (This form of treatment is suggested for all areas of injury.)

• Steroid Injection failure rate (Including "partial success" as failure) is 72.6% after 1-year follow up. Source: Irwin, et al. J Hand Surgery.

• Contrast Baths (Hot/Cold) are often a recommended by physicians or therapists to increase recovery from sub-acute injuries. Typical treatment protocol is approximately three (3) minutes of heat followed by one (1) minute of cold 5x in a row, ending with cold. The COLDFLEX® "Self-Cooling" Compression Wrap is great for the cold portion of the treatment as it provides cooling compression and eliminates tissue damage caused by "freezer-burn", which is associated with the traditional use of ice. Heat alone is not recommended.

• Surgery is the "standard" treatment for CTS in order to open the carpal tunnel to relieve pressure on the nerve. BUT surgery does not correct the real cause of the dysfunction; therefore it is not effective and does not provide a permanent cure.