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January/February 2002 Alternative Health
Wrist and Arm Problems

by Todd Pennington

Do your arms and hands ache? Do you have a strong grip? Do you drop things? Do you want to wear a wrist brace? Can you bring your hand back almost 90 degrees (right angle)? Can you bend it forward 90 degrees (right angle)? Can you extend your arm straight out (no bend at the elbow)? These are some of the questions in determining wrist and arm problems. The most common remedy is to live with it. The result is that in time movement is restricted and is normally accompanied by pain. In seeking help for it, doctors will push surgery. Surgery has its own pain and frequently does not take care of the entire problem. In a great many cases the arm and wrist pain can be released quickly by a massage therapist who knows how to relax the muscles that control the arm.

"Even if you have been told that nothing can be done about your pain, there can be hope of change."

Many people are told they have carpal tunnel syndrome, but sometimes it is the neck that is the real problem. Check your neck; feel if it is tight or sore. Put your hand to the back of your neck. The neck is supposed to have a gentle curve front to back as you move your hand up and down the neck. If the shape of your neck moves forward abruptly then it can pinch nerves. If you have a flat area (almost no front to back curve) in the neck, it can pinch nerves in a different way. This can cause pain in the shoulder, arm and wrist. In either case, relax the muscles and the vertebra can move into more comfortable positions.

The Problem is that nerves are being pinched. This is caused by muscles being so tight that the nerve is pinched or that special cells in the wrist signal danger. In either case, the brain interprets it as "STOP - Don't do... (whatever action you were doing)". Keeping the problem or correcting it with surgery are options, not requirements. There is another way.

Each muscle that moves the arm, wrist and hand, including all of the shoulder and neck muscles is capable of restricting the motion of the arm and wrist. Thus, each of these muscles needs to be considered in releasing the wrist pain. As the muscles release, the wrist can move more and is less likely to be painful. The key is to know the muscles and how each can impact wrist pain. It is also critical to know several ways to relax each muscle. One of the most important things to know is how relaxing muscles at another location can relax the entire region. The problem is frequently not at the location of the pain.

Both in evaluation and in therapy look at many different causes for the problem. Each muscle in the hand needs to be checked to find any problem in the hand itself. In many cases a gentle release of the muscles, controlling the wrist bones can release a lot of the tension. Also, the if the muscles for the thumb tighten they can become restrictive to moving the wrist. The area around the thumb can be worked. This means the entire area and not just the center of the webbing. (Releasing the wrist can help to loosen muscles all the way to the head and has been known to help headaches.) There are many muscles in the forearm that pull the thumb toward the elbow. Others control additional motions of the wrist and hand. When these are tight the muscles can prevent the wrist from being able to move the normal full range of motion.

Muscles at greater distance also need to be considered. It is possible that a pull from a great distance can control the wrist pain. Muscles of the upper arm control the position of the elbow and the flexibility of the whole arm. Most of this area is controlled by the shoulder, upper pectoral area and below the arm pit. The shoulder region controls much of what happens for the entire arm and wrist. Some of the easiest ways of releasing the wrist start here. The neck can force the entire arm and chest. Relaxing muscles that control the motion of the neck can be the most important work to release wrist pain in some people.

Control Muscle Release Therapy looks at the muscles that control bone and muscles at a distance. The goal is to release the structure easily and gently. The easiest way to release the whole body is to relax the key regions of the body. I work on all the issues that I have talked about and many others.

For more information or an appointment call Todd Pennington, LMT, 10175 SW Barbur, Suite 306, Portland, OR 97219. (503) 244-4427. For more articles see www.penningtonmassage.com.