Do you ever wonder why physicians would advise to use a hand splint to relieve carpal tunnel syndrome? The normal anatomy of your hand enables you to grip, hold a fist, type, and do a lot more things. However, due to carpal wrist tunnel syndrome, the small bones of your hand need to have a limited activity so that due healing will happen. For this reason, a splint needs to be applied. Your doctor makes sure to give you the best carpal tunnel splint. To give you a clearer view about carpal tunnel syndrome and how splinting alleviates it, read on.

CTS is an indication of an underlying inflammation or anatomical irregularity inside your hand. Carpal wrist tunnel is like an opening that is formed by ligaments, soft tissues and the small bones of your hand. These are systematically arranged so that median nerve can pass through it. The median nerve is the one responsible for giving sensation to the palm, fingers, and the back of the hand. If one of the structures surrounding the carpal tunnel is enlarged, the tunnel is forced to be stretched. Hence, carpal wrist tunnel syndrome occurs with a painful sensation. Sometimes, this is accompanied by hand numbness due to the compression of the median nerve.

Initially, the doctor will apply a hand splint so that the small bones of your hand will have limited movement. In this way, pain is managed and gradual hand stretching exercises can be initiated. There are various brands of hand splints available in the market and online, but you must be aware about the qualities of the best carpal tunnel splint.

Primarily, the splint should fit the size of your hand so that when you wear it, it is never too tight or too loose. Too tight hand splints can further cause compression of the median nerve and could impede blood flow to the affected area, hence delaying the healing process. It should also be flexible enough to enable you to do hand stretching exercises.

There are several types of hand splints which are accordingly used to support a specific part of the hand. To avoid flexing the wrist, a straight removable splint is recommended. If you intend to be back to your typing job, a work splint is ideal. However, it provides less support but is more flexible. Plastic and fiberglass splints are used after a surgery to treat a recurring carpal tunnel syndrome.

The best carpal tunnel splint is made of breathable fabric to ensure comfort when used. It should be latex free to guarantee that skin allergies will not occur once it touches the skin. Furthermore, Velcro straps are ideal for hand splints to promote stability. Lastly, it should be durable enough to support the bony areas of the hand and the wrist.