Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/1338685
L i s te n to T h e A B M P Po d c a s t a t a b m p.co m /p o d c a s t s o r w h e reve r yo u a cce s s yo u r favo r i te p o d c a s t s 39 Passive Stretching of the Flexor Retinaculum Positioning: client seated or supine. 1. Gently grasp and support the client's wrist with their palm facing up. 2. Firmly pin the flexor retinaculum with your thumb using cross-fiber pressure rather than compressing the carpal tunnel. 3. Passively extend and abduct the thumb and fingers to elongate and free the fibers of the flexor retinaculum. 4. Repeat as you pin the retinaculum in various directions. be further restricted through tendon hypertrophy, increased fascial density, or fluid accumulation associated with inflammation. Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common pathology that occurs when the median nerve is compressed within the carpal tunnel. This is characterized by pain, numbness, and tingling in the associated areas of the hand and arm, as well as atrophy in the thenar eminence and lateral lumbricales of the hand. Nerve dysfunction is often progressive and can become permanent if left untreated. Soft-tissue manipulation of the flexor retinaculum is a valuable part of treatment and prevention of carpal tunnel syndrome. Christy Cael is a licensed massage therapist and certified strength and conditioning specialist. Her private practice focuses on injury treatment, biomechanical analysis, craniosacral therapy, and massage for clients with neurological issues. She is the author of Functional Anatomy: Musculoskeletal Anatomy, Kinesiology, and Palpation for Manual Therapists (New York: Jones & Bartlett Learning, 2010; jblearning.com). Contact her at christy_cael@hotmail.com. Radius Capitate Trapezoid Trapezium Ulna Lunate Triquetrum Pisiform Hamate Scaphoid Anterior View Palpating the Carpal Tunnel Positioning: client seated or supine. 1. Sit or stand at the client's side. Gently grasp their open hand facing palm up. 2. Using the pads of your thumbs, locate the thenar and hypothenar eminence of the palm. 3. Moving toward the center of the palm, palpate deeply and between the soft tissue of the two eminences to locate the concave palmar surfaces of the carpal bones. 4. Use special attention to locate the prominent hook of the hamate and pisiform medially, and the tubercles of the scaphoid and trapezium laterally.