Arthritis Increases Risk of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a condition often treated by chiropractors. The carpal tunnel is a narrow, rigid passageway of ligament and bones at the base of the hand that houses the median nerve and tendons. Sometimes, thickening from irritated tendons or other swelling narrows the tunnel and causes the median nerve to be compressed, generating the symptoms associated with CTS such as numbness, tingling, and loss of grip strength. A systematic review and meta-analysis on the effects of inflammatory and degenerative arthritis on carpal tunnel syndrome has revealed that both rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis nearly double an individual’s risk for developing CTS.
Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology, March 2016