I’m tired of seeing videos posted online by “healthcare experts” that have no clue about anatomy or the mechanics of human movement, yet think they do because of the letters following their name.
A degree in occupational therapy does not make you a hand specialist. Even if the occupational therapist were certified as a hand specialist, there is a difference between occupational therapy, which mostly focuses on the re-development of coordination and function following severe trauma such as a head injury. Re-gaining mobility in a person’s hand that has lost function due to a head trauma is in no way the same as correcting a muscle imbalance caused by overuse of a particular muscle group. (i.e. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome caused by overuse of the finger and wrist flexor and finger adductor muscles.)
If your therapist recommends the following exercises to treat carpal tunnel syndrome, find a new therapist immediately!
~ Gripping / Squeezing exercises (Squeeze balls, etc.)
~ Finger-walking exercises
~ Finger flexion gliding exercises
~ Using a hand (bi)cycle
~ Finger flexion exercises
~ Wrist flexion exercises
~ Circular exercises with wrist
~ Pincer-type exercises Next I will be posting stretches and exercises for treating Cubital Tunnel Syndrome.