Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Treatment in West Los Angeles
We provide specialized physical therapy for patients dealing with carpal tunnel syndrome throughout West Los Angeles and Santa Monica — whether you are managing symptoms conservatively or recovering from carpal tunnel release surgery.
Carpal tunnel syndrome — compression of the median nerve as it passes through the wrist — causes numbness, tingling, and weakness in the hand and fingers that can make typing, gripping, or even sleeping uncomfortable. It is one of the most common nerve compression conditions we treat, and in many cases it responds very well to physical therapy without the need for surgery.
Our goal is to help you reduce numbness and tingling, restore hand strength and function, and return to typing, working, and daily activities without carpal tunnel symptoms limiting what you can do.
What Is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve — which passes through a narrow channel (the carpal tunnel) in the wrist — becomes compressed. This causes the characteristic numbness, tingling, and weakness in the thumb, index, middle, and part of the ring finger.
Common symptoms include numbness or tingling that wakes you up at night, weakness with pinching or gripping, dropping objects unexpectedly, and symptoms that worsen with prolonged typing or driving. Symptoms often start intermittently and gradually become more persistent over time.
It is also important to rule out nerve compression at the cervical spine as a contributing factor — many patients have symptoms coming from both the neck and the wrist simultaneously, which requires a different treatment approach.
Conservative vs. Surgical Treatment
Mild to moderate carpal tunnel syndrome often responds well to physical therapy — nerve gliding exercises, activity modification, wrist splinting guidance, and treatment of contributing factors in the neck and forearm can significantly reduce symptoms without surgery.
For patients who have had carpal tunnel release surgery, physical therapy helps restore hand strength, reduce scar sensitivity, and return to full function. Post-surgical recovery is typically faster than most patients expect — most are back to light activities within a few weeks, with full recovery in two to three months.
We have extensive experience with both conservative management and post-surgical rehabilitation for carpal tunnel syndrome, and we tailor our approach to your specific situation and goals.
What Treatment Includes
Treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome is tailored to whether you are managing conservatively or recovering from surgery, as well as your specific symptoms and contributing factors.
Treatment may include:
- Nerve gliding exercises to mobilize the median nerve
- Manual therapy to the wrist, forearm, and cervical spine
- Wrist and hand strengthening
- Activity modification and ergonomic guidance
- Scar tissue management (post-surgical)
- Grip and pinch strength training
- Postural correction and neck treatment if contributing
For patients who work at a desk or computer, ergonomic guidance is an important part of treatment — addressing the positions and habits that are contributing to nerve compression throughout the day.
When to See Someone
If you are experiencing numbness or tingling in your hand that wakes you at night, affects your ability to type or grip, or has been present for more than a few weeks, getting a proper evaluation is worth it. Carpal tunnel syndrome that is caught and treated early is significantly easier to resolve than symptoms that have been present for months or years.
In California, you can see a physical therapist directly without a doctor’s referral.
Our Goal
Our goal is to help you reduce numbness, restore hand strength, and get back to the tasks that carpal tunnel symptoms have been affecting — whether that is typing, cooking, driving, or working. As your physical therapist in West Los Angeles, we take a thorough approach that addresses not just the wrist, but all the contributing factors that are driving your nerve compression.