I've been diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome. Would regular hand and wrist exercises help me avoid surgery?
Answer From Peter C. Amadio, M.D.
Probably not. Carpal tunnel exercises alone aren't likely to relieve symptoms, such as pain and numbness. These exercises are most effective when combined with other treatments, such as behavior changes or wrist splints.
If your symptoms are serious, you'll likely still need surgery to get relief.
Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by pressure on the median nerve as it passes through the carpal tunnel in the wrist. Nerve-gliding exercises are one type of carpal tunnel exercise. These exercises might help allow the median nerve to move as usual. But the exercises also might worsen symptoms. If the median nerve remains trapped, nerve-gliding exercises can stretch, irritate or injure the nerve.
Despite their limitations, carpal tunnel exercises might help:
- Complement another treatment. Carpal tunnel exercises might help mild to moderate symptoms when combined with other treatments. Other treatments may include changing your activities, wrist splinting or corticosteroid injections.
- After surgery to prevent nerve scarring. Range-of-motion exercises — which may include nerve-gliding exercises — might help heal an injury to the wrist. For example, this may be helpful for a wrist fracture that needs surgery or repair near the carpal tunnel.
- Delay the need for surgery. Some research has shown that a combination of wearing a splint, learning about carpal tunnel syndrome and doing home exercises may delay the need for surgery. People who followed this program, which was led by a therapist, also experienced fewer symptoms and improved satisfaction.
If your healthcare team recommends carpal tunnel exercises, start them slowly over time. It's also a good idea to work with a hand therapist. The therapist can show you the right way to do these exercises so that you don't make your symptoms worse.
With
Peter C. Amadio, M.D.
Show References
- Skirven TM, et al., eds. Therapists' management of compression neuropathies at the wrist. In: Rehabilitation of the Hand and Upper Extremity. 7th ed. Elsevier; 2021. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed April 9, 2024.
- Kothari MJ. Carpal tunnel syndrome: Treatment and prognosis. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed May 5, 2022.
- Lewis KJ, et al. Group education, night splinting and home exercises reduce conversion to surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome: A multicentre randomized trial. Journal of Physiotherapy. 2020; doi:10.1016/j.jphys.2020.03.007.
- Sim SE, et al. Short-term clinical outcome of orthosis alone vs combination of orthosis, nerve, and tendon gliding therapy for treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome. Journal of Hand Therapy. 2019; doi.org/10.1016/j.jht.2018.01.004.
- Amadio PC (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic. May 16, 2022.
- Figueiredo DS, et al. Comparison of the effect of nocturnal use of commercial versus custom-made wrist orthoses, in addition to gliding exercises, in the function and symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome: A pilot randomized trial. Musculoskeletal Science and Practice. 2020; doi:10.1016/j.msksp.2019.102089.
Original article: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/carpal-tunnel-syndrome/expert-answers/carpal-tunnel-exercises/FAQ-20058125