Cold extremities are a well known indicator of restricted blood circulation in medicine. When blood vessels are constricted or even slightly obstructed due to outside pressure on the vessel, it causes a reduction in the passage of blood to the extremity. The skin surface is where the temperature reduction is most pronounced. When the air temperature (most comfortable at 70 degrees Fahrenheit (F) for normal activity) is well below the average body temperature (about 98 degrees F) the skin temperature of the extremity will be marked by reduced temperature and a chilled sensation if blood vessels feeding the extremity are constricted and physical activity is minimal. This is a well know phenomenon in medicine. The majority of blood feeding the hand passes through three key arteries in and around the carpal tunnel. These include the Median artery passing through the carpal tunnel, and the Ulnar and Radial arteries which pass through the soft tissue proximate to the carpal tunnel (see notes below).
We relied on the above phenomenon to demonstrate the immediate impact and mechanism of action of Carpal Solution therapy. A patient’s hand skin temperature was monitored before and after the application of the device. The patient suffering from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome was asked to lie completely still fully clothed in a comfortable position on an exam table. The arms were positioned to lie still horizontally across the patient’s abdomen with the hand slightly elevated and resting in the air to stabilize metabolic activity and eliminate possible contribution to increased circulation due to physical activity, gravity or body heat. The temperature in the clinical visitation room was held constant at a comfortable 69 degrees Fahrenheit. Thermocouples were fastened to the palm of the hand and the underside of the forearm using surgical tape. After five minutes in this position, the initial temperature of the hand was recorded at 80.8 degrees F and the forearm position was recorded at 86.4 degrees F. There was a 5.6 degree F temperature gradient between the forearm and the hand recorded before therapy at time zero.
A Carpal Solution was placed on the hand experiencing carpal tunnel syndrome. After twenty minutes, a five degree temperature elevation was recorded on the hand’s skin surface. The forearm temperature decreased 0.6 degrees F, leaving the forearm and the hand at the same temperature of 85.8 degrees Fahrenheit. Consistent with the concept reviewed above, it is concluded that improved blood circulation in the extremity resulted in relatively rapid increase in skin temperature of the hand with other factors being held static.
In addition to the Median artery the carpal tunnel contains the Median Nerve which provides feeling sensation to the hand and tendons which facilitate steady controlled wrist movement. We conclude that this rapid rise in skin temperature of the hand resulted from less restricted flow of blood due to decreased external pressure in and around the carpal tunnel. We would suggest that this effect is achieved through decompression of the soft tissue around the carpal tunnel relieving external pressure on the arteries. We also conclude that just as a slight reduction in external pressure in the soft tissue around the tunnel allowed an increase in blood circulation, that it will also relieve external pressure on the median nerve by the same mechanism. This is how the Carpal Solution therapy alleviates the pain and symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome and revitalizes the hand naturally with well circulated blood that is rich in oxygen and nutrients.
This demonstration is a simple, but powerful, proof of principle for the Carpal Solution. It offers strong supporting evidence of the potential to decompress and reshape the soft tissue in the Hand to relieve pressure on vessels, nerves and tendons passing through and around the carpal tunnel. It also provides valuable insight and validates the mechanism of action behind the Carpal Solution therapy. Using readily reproducible non-invasive skin temperature measurements, independent investigators can confirm this phenomenon on patients suffering from CTS.
