Does Cracking Your Knuckles Help Relieve Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

Carpal Tunnel plagues more of us than ever now in our keyboard keyed in world. Even minimal repetitive use of a PC keyboard, can wear down hands and fingers to the point of feeling intense pain, tingling or even numbness. Working a mouse, touch pad, trackball or even texting on a mobile phone or iPhone all day doesn't help matters. As a professional writer for almost 15 years, my hands have taken a severe beating, and then some. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome turns my late nights and early morning into a pain laden ordeal.

Before recommending any of these techniques, I'll clearly state and stress I'm no physician, with no medical training and I've not studied up on hand physiology in any way shape or form. The exercises and techniques have worked for me. I don't pretend to offer any foundational medical therapies or information to help cure anyone of carpal tunnel syndrome or anything else. Since it's worked effectively for me, I wanted to share this with others.

Finger Snapping

Despite the snappy, happy sub-title here, no, I'm not advocating those who suffer from carpal tunnel go audition for dance competitions like So You Think You Can Dance or Dancing With The Stars by practicing their rhythmic finger snap routines.

The trick here is keeping your fingers strong and flexible. By snapping your stressed digits several times an hour over the course of a day, it's essentially massaging and increasing blood flow. Since some of us can't snap, I suggest touching the fingers to one another and pressing or rubbing them slightly together. Grabbing a tennis ball, rubber ball or even a pair of rolled up socks also helps provide a flexible resistance to the hands and fingers

Knuckles Nuclear

Is cracking knuckles, a last desperate resort, a health care nuclear option? When you read I advise cracking knuckles as a relief to carpal tunnel pain, you may resist the advice. For years, I had heard it was bad to crack your knuckles, that it even might lead to arthritis. Conversely I've heard it's fine, that there's nothing wrong with doing it. What to believe? Here's a pretty detailed conversation about it at WikiAnswers. Also here's a chat on the subject at How Stuff Works. It appears there's no real evidence linking knuckle cracking to debilitating arthritis, but there may be some damage to grip strength, if done chronically.

Bottom line for me and for a few friends who've also resorted to cracking knuckles is that it's fast pain relief and provides an immediate increase in mobility. It's also supported by real evidence, and is similar to the relief and improved motion experienced after a chiropractor manipulates your joints or spine. With cracking your own knuckles, you can do it instantly, free, and if you're like me, you might find real pain relief and increased finger mobility. Like any health matter, proceed cautiously and consult a medical professional, but occasional knuckle cracking helps me live easier and more pain free with my own carpal tunnel.

Sources

http://health.howstuffworks.com/question437.htm

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Does_cracking_your_knuckles_lead_to_arthritis