You read that title correctly – you CAN use a Hydragun massage gun to alleviate carpal tunnel pain.
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), a common condition that causes pain and numbness of the hand and arm, can be caused by any sport. However, some sports pose a higher risk for it than others. These include golf, rowing, archery, bodybuilding, rock climbing, and pretty much any other sport that involves repetitive wrist movement. However, CTS is not limited to athletes. Hairdressers, sewers, knitters, even someone who sits in an office typing the day away can suffer from it.
With so many prone to CTS, it’s a good thing that there’s a non-invasive and cost-effective way to treat it. That’s massage therapy. And with a HYDRAGUN, all the benefits of percussion massage therapy are easily within reach.
In this article, we show you how to use a massage gun for carpal tunnel, or specifically, how your HYDRAGUN can help alleviate the pain and numbness caused by CTS. You can also start your journey to recovery and get a Hydragun here.
The HYDRAGUN Massage Gun Attachment Heads
Before we go into the actual massages, let’s get to know your tool – the HYDRAGUN. It comes with 4 regular and 3 stainless steel attachment heads.
In general, we recommend –
· ball head – large muscle groups
· fork head – deeper penetration of medium muscle groups
· bullet head – pinpoint targeting of tight knots
The flat heads (1 regular, 3 stainless steel) are suggested for larger surface areas.
You can use your HYDRAGUN massage gun all over the body, from the neck, shoulders, torso, legs, and feet.
Using a Massage Gun for Carpal Tunnel
The carpal tunnel is a narrow passage in the wrist that’s around an inch wide. It is formed by the carpal bones or wrist bones on the floor and sides and the transverse carpal ligament on the roof. This tunnel is very hard so it has a very limited capacity to stretch.
From the neck, down to the arms, and into the hand runs the median nerve. This nerve passes through the carpal tunnel and is responsible for the feelings in the fingers and hand. The carpal tunnel is also the passageway for the flexor tendons, which move the fingers of the hand.
Pain occurs when the median nerve gets compressed or pinched. This also results in numbness and a tingling sensation in the hands and arm. This is carpal tunnel syndrome.
Massage helps in softening and lengthening the muscles and fascia and thus helps relieve the symptoms of CTS.
Recommended Massage Gun Attachment Head to Use:
We recommend using the ball head attachment. The hand is very bony and using one of the harder attachments may be painful. However, you are also free to use whatever attachment head you feel most comfortable with.
How to:
1. Choose the attachment.
2. Turn the HYDRAGUN massage gun on and choose the speed setting.
3. Apply HYDRAGUN to the body.
For carpal tunnel syndrome relief:
1. You can do the massage standing up or you can sit down and place your forearm on a flat surface like a table.
2. Gently float the HYDRAGUN across the top of the forearm for 10-15 seconds.
3. Turn your forearm over and run the HYDRAGUN across the bottom of the forearm for another 10-15 seconds.
4. Move to the palm and massage it for 15 seconds.
After the massage, stretch the forearms for 10-15 seconds. Do this twice a day, once in the morning and once before bed.
Carpal tunnel syndrome can get worse over time if not treated early and can lead to nerve damage. In this case, surgery is the only way to correct it. So if your symptoms do not get better with massage and stretching exercises, make sure you consult with a doctor as soon as possible.
Suffering from pain in other areas? Check out the rest of our muscle recovery series.
No HYDRAGUN yet? Don’t miss out on the Future of Recovery. Get HYDRAGUN here.
