One of the symptoms that I treat more and more frequently today, even in children, is numb or tingling hands. Often times this is a very basic nerve impingement that is very effectively treated by Therapeutic Massage.
The nerve plexus, called the brachial plexus, that enervates the arm and hand passes from the spinal cord in the neck. It then passes first under the scalene musculature of the anterior neck, and then under the pectoralis minor muscle in the chest before proceeding into the arm. When either, or both of these areas are tight, the result is compression on the nerve. The resulting symptoms can be numb or tingling hands, shooting pains or deep aches in the hands that can’t be reproduced by pressing on them, constantly itchy or cold hands, or a weak grip. These symptoms are referred to as Thoracic Outlet Syndrome or Pec Minor Syndrome, depending on which muscles are affected.
This set of symptoms has become particularly prevalent because of our long hours in front of computers. Basically, the pec muscles become shortened when we have our arms in front of us, as in driving or keyboarding, and the shortened musculature squeezes the nerve plexus against the ribcage, causing impingement. Forward head posture, again accentuated by computer use, causes the anterior neck musculature to act in a similar fashion.
Therapeutic Massage can specifically target and lengthen the necessary musculature to alleviate pressure on the nerves. Treatment for theses syndromes is usually very effective in very few treatments. In addition, home care exercises will be assigned to maintain improvement and relief.
More information and photos of stretches to treat Pec Minor Syndrome are available at:
http://www.restoremassagetherapy.com/stretching-guides/pec-stretches.html
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