Rigid Hand Brace and Wrist Splints – Reviewed by Doctors
Authored by Medical Expert: Mr. Alan Ward, MSOT, Master Occupational Therapist, Expert in Splinting and Bracing of Hands and Forearms
It is ironic that Carpal Tunnel Wrist Splints and Rigid Hand Braces are almost ubiquitous, when they offer such a poor solution for the treatment of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Patients find these devices everywhere they turn. It is curious that a device that actually makes Carpal Tunnel worse in the long-run is found in every pharmacy and often prescribed by primary care providers and neurologists as the first line of treatment.
The fact is these rigid immobilizing braces, also known as wrist splints, will cause muscle atrophy, muscle imbalance, and can injure the soft tissue of the hand, wrist and forearm where the splint is regularly in contact with the body.
Examples of soft tissue that can readily be injured with constant contact from a rigid device are:
- muscle tissue,
- fascia tissue,
- cartilage,
- tendons,
- ligaments
- and nerves
These are the connective and sensory tissues that cushion, link and control the 27 bones of the hand and wrist together and allow seamless dexterity, muscle control and movement without pain.
Issues with fingers such as dexterity loss and stiffness of the fingers are also common with splinting of the hand and wrist.
Most people find that rigid braces and wrist splints are uncomfortable, restrictive, embarrassing to wear and annoying for bed partners to put up with.
However, the biggest problem is these rigid devices offer no therapeutic action for treating Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. These Splints should only be used in a one situation in conjunction with CTS:
When consistently lifting heavy objects at work, a rigid brace can allow a person to absorb the stress with the forearm and not the wrist. The brace cushions and protects the wrist from the full weight of lifting a heavy object.
There is a major watch out for people who try these Rigid Immobilizing Splints as a Carpal Tunnel Treatment.
It is common for patients to report that using Immobilizing Braces offers a little help in reducing Carpal Tunnel Pain in the beginning. It is because these devices prevent movement and immobilize that hand and wrist. No movement no pain in the early stages.
This can be initiate a dangerous dependence on a treatment option that in the long run will make Carpal Tunnel Syndrome worse by injuring soft tissue further and causing muscle atrophy.
Any person who has worn a cast on their arm or leg for an extended period, has observed how once the cast is removed, the muscle has shrunk significantly and is weak.
The same impact happens with Carpal Tunnel Splints, but this effect can be more difficult to detect with the small muscles in the hand and wrist. This chronic loss of muscle can complicate the recovery from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome significantly.
There is one other situation that a gentle immobilization strategy will help with Carpal Tunnel Symptoms. If a person curls their wrist significantly during sleep and presses the back of the hand up against their head or chest in the fetal type position, this can cause stress on the wrist and aggravate Carpal Tunnel. When the wrist is held at a right angle, this narrows the Carpal Tunnel and puts more pressure on the Median Nerve. People suffering with CTS should avoid this position.
However, it is best to steer clear of the wrist splints and follow a more enlightened immobilization method to manage sleep posture and carpal tunnel symptoms.
It is best to retrain yourself to sleep in a different position if possible. You can have a family member or bed partner observe you when sleeping and help you utilize pillows to maintain sleep positions that prevent you from bending your wrist in an aggressive way. If you cannot retrain yourself from this sleep habit, then you may want to do what other patients have found helpful.
You simply find two small, firm pillows that you tape together with duct tape and sandwich your hand in between the two pillows to keep your hand and wrist in a neutral position during sleep. Patients report that using this “pillow sandwich approach” prevents them from curling their wrist at a right angle during sleep.
Having your hands and wrist held in a neutral position with pillows will avoid injury to the soft tissue of the hand, wrist and forearm like you get with long-term use of rigid hand braces or wrist splints. It is not going to cure Carpal Tunnel, but it will help minimize the symptoms during sleep, allow better blood circulation, prevent further injury and minimize muscle atrophy.
People with Carpal Tunnel should avoid holding their wrist at a right angle during sleep or any time as it narrows the space in the Carpal Tunnel and restricts blood circulation.
The concept of keeping the hand and wrist in a neutral position while at rest is a solid concept, but using a rigid brace or wrist splint or an immobilizing wrist support to accomplish this objective is a poor treatment method.
Other than when lifting heavy objects, these common Hand Splints and Wrist Braces should be avoided altogether for the Treatment of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
It is much better to employ good ergonomics at your work station and the Carpal Solution Nighttime Stretching Treatment at night during sleep.
The Carpal Solution provides over 220 hours of gentle consistent stretching at three key trigger points during the six-week treatment program. There is no other way to achieve this kind of consistent proven therapy.
The Carpal Solution Therapy was developed by Doctors and works for 97% of patients. It will likely work for you too.
Neurologists, the nerve experts in medicine say the Carpal Solution is the best first line treatment for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
It is nothing like an immobilizing wrist splint or a hand brace. It is not a Carpal Tunnel Compression Glove.
The Carpal Solution Nighttime Stretching Treatment represents an ingenious way to gently jump start your body’s natural healing process.
It increases blood circulation to the injured soft tissue and restores flexibility to the injured tissue and in this way relieves the pressure on the Median Nerve Naturally and puts CTS in remission for 2 – 7 years.
That’s right most people get relief of their worst symptoms in 2 – 3 weeks and complete remission in 6 weeks. Then Carpal Tunnel Syndrome goes away for 2 – 7 years. It will come back, but there is no downtime, no risks, and it is easy to use during sleep.
