Carpal Tunnel Symptoms

Last Updated: March 15 2022

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is caused by the compression of the median nerve in the wrist. The symptoms include numbness, tingling, or pain in specific parts of the hand.

Summary

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is caused by the compression of the median nerve in the wrist. The symptoms include numbness, tingling, or pain in certain parts of the hand innervated by the median nerve, as shown in Figure 1. It affects around[1][2] 3-6% of people, and subjective symptoms are associated[3] with anxiety, depression, and lower quality of life. The major biomechanical risk factors[4] for developing CTS are repetitive motions and forceful motions of the hand, as well as the combination of these two movement patterns. Non-hand-related associations exist[5] as well, such as not exercising, poor overall physical health, and lack of job satisfaction. Other disease states, such as hypothyroidism and diabetes, are also associated[6] with CTS.

image

Compression of the median nerve may cause biochemical changes in the nerve that contribute to damage. Animal studies show that crushing[7] rat nerves increases oxidative stress levels. Furthermore, humans with CTS show higher levels of oxidative stress both in their hand tendon[8] and globally[9].

Examine Database: Carpal Tunnel Symptoms
What works and what doesn't?

Unlock the full potential of Examine

Get started

Don't miss out on the latest research