Practice the following exercises consistently to get relief from the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome:
1. Wrist Rotations
Rotate your hands left, right, up and down and repeat this step up to four times.
2. Thumb Stretch
Use your opposite hand to press your thumb backwards till you experience a slight stretch on your thumb. Repeat this step up to four times.
3. Finger Stretch
You need to widely stretch your fingers and relax them. Repeat this exercise up to four times.
4. Prayer Stretch
Place your hands together in a prayer position under your chin. With keeping your hands in this position, push it down to your waist till you experience a moderate stretch. Hold this position for a maximum of 30 seconds. Repeat this exercise two to four times.
5. Wrist Extensor Stretch
Experts recommend doing this exercise for carpal tunnel syndrome. All you need to do is place your hands in front of you, keeping your palm down. Bend your hand forward to the floor by pressing the back of your wrist. Use your opposite hand to bend your other hand more forward to maximise the stretch. Hold this position for a maximum of 30 seconds. Repeat this exercise on both hands two to four times.
6. Wrist Flexor Stretch
Place your hand in front of you, keeping your palm upwards. Bend your hand backwards by stretching the palm. Use your other hand to press the hand backwards even more to intensify the stretch. Hold this position for a maximum of 30 seconds. Repeat these steps on both hands two to four times.
7. Median Nerve Glide
Make a fist, and hold out your fingers, keeping the thumb near them. Bend your hands back towards your arm. Hold your hand in that position and put your thumb away from your fingers. Next, turn your forearm and use your other hand to push your thumb backwards, maximising the stretch. Repeat this exercise 10 to 15 times daily to reduce the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome.
Note that you need to apply heat to your wrist and hand for 15 minutes before doing this stretching exercise for carpal tunnel syndrome. After, apply an ice pack for around 20 minutes to prevent swelling. Besides, you must hold every step of this exercise for three to seven seconds to get the maximum benefit.
8. Tender Glides - Type One
Place your hand in front of you and keep your fingers straight. Now, bend your fingers with the knuckles pointing upwards, where your fingers will appear in a hook shape. Bend your fingers further and make a tight fist. Repeat this exercise 5 to 10 times a day.
9. Tendon Glides - Type Two
Place your hand in front of you and keep your fingers straight. Bend your fingers at a 90-degree angle so that your hand appears like a tabletop. Keep bending your fingers and bring them to the bottom of your palm.
In both types of tendon glides, experts recommend applying heat for 15 minutes to your hand before doing this exercise. After this exercise, apply ice or a cold pack for 20 minutes. Additionally, hold every position for three seconds to get the maximum benefit.
10. Wrist Lift
Keep one palm of your hand flat on a table. Now, keep your other hand at the right angle across the knuckles. Next, lift your fingers and palm of your hand placed on a table and use your top hand to press it down. Hold this position for 5 seconds and relax. Repeat this exercise 10 times on each hand.
11. ist Stretch With Weights
Hold the weight in your hand. Now, extend your arm at the front, keeping your palm down. Bring your hand upwards and downwards your arm by bending the wrist slowly. Now, slowly return to the initial position and repeat this exercise 10 times. Do this exercise for three sets on each hand.
12. Hand Squeeze
Hold a ball in your hand and squeeze it for 5 seconds. Release it and repeat it 10 times for three sets on each hand.
13. Shake Your Hands
This is a simple exercise where all you need to do is shake your hands as you have just washed and air-drying them. You can do this exercise every hour for a minute to prevent your flexor muscles and median nerves from getting cramped.
14. Spiders Doing Pushups on a Mirror
Each of your fingertips should be in contact and must point downwards. Spread your fingers apart, where your palms will separate, but your fingers will remain together.