Health
Pursuit Physiotherapy- Managing and Preventing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Management & Prevention of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome is one of the most commonly diagnosed repetitive strain injuries. It occurs when the median nerve, which is the main nerve that travels down the inside of your forearm to your hand, becomes compressed or irritated as it passes through the carpal tunnel at the wrist. The carpal tunnel is an opening formed by ligaments and bones on the inside of the wrist which allow tendons and nerves to pass through it.
The problem is that this passageway is narrow and can be easily obstructed by local swelling and inflammation, usually from overuse or direct trauma. For example, repetitive work or leisure activities that involve a lot of gripping or use of the flexors (inner forearm muscles) can cause inflammation of the tendons. Similarly, long hours of computer work with improper ergonomics can cause excessive pressure on the inside of the wrist.
The common symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome are numbness, tingling, or burning sensations in the palm of the hand and fingers, often accompanied by skin sensitivity and grip weakness. As the symptoms worsen people often experience sharp, shooting pain from the inner wrist up the forearm and decreased ability to use the affected hand.
Our treatment strategy is geared towards reducing the pressure on the carpal tunnel area and allowing the median nerve to function properly again. We are able to use a number of different treatment strategies such as:
-
Joint mobilization – stiff joints around the carpal tunnel can cause narrowing of the passageway and compression of the median nerve and flexor tendons. Using manual techniques we will loosen stiff joints and work to restore normal mobility and range of motion in the wrist and hand bones, taking pressure off the nervous tissue.
-
Soft tissue release – it is important to release tight muscles in the forearm and hand that may be compressing the median nerve and contributing to nerve pain and tightness. We can use a number of techniques to achieve this such as massage, cupping, acupuncture, and IMS.
-
Ergonomic correction – we will work with you to determine how to optimize your ergonomic set-up for work or home to minimize strain on your body. A brace may also be recommended to manage symptoms at work or at night. A brace will keep your wrist in a neutral position and prevent the wrist from flexing and compressing the carpal tunnel.
There are also a number of prevention strategies that you can use to reduce your risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome:
-
Optimize your ergonomic set-up – position your keyboard and mouse so that your wrists are neutral and not hyperextended or flexed. Also be aware of your posture and try to keep your neck, shoulders, and back in a straight and relaxed position. Ergonomic equipment may also be useful especially for people who spend long hours at the computer. For more detail see the full blog on correct ergonomics.
-
Take regular breaks from repetitive activities – prevent tension and strain from building up in your tissues by planning regular breaks for stretching and changing position.
Seek help from a physiotherapist at the first signs of pain; don’t wait for it to get worse.
Carpal tunnel release surgery is also an option for chronic cases that do not completely resolve with physiotherapy; however it should be seen as a last resort. A course of physiotherapy treatment is always recommended before having an invasive procedure.
**It should be noted that NOT ALL WRIST AND HAND TINGLING IS DIAGNOSED AS CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME. Your nervous system is a continuous network of tissue, therefore nerve compression or irritation in other areas of the body such as the neck, back, shoulder, or elbow can contribute to or cause your hand symptoms. Especially if your condition is bilateral (symptoms on both sides), it is likely that body parts other than your wrist and hand require treatment.
As physiotherapists we are trained to comprehensively assess and diagnose your body as a whole and treat all the factors contributing to your pain. We can help ensure you get thorough treatment to eliminate your symptoms as quickly as possible and prevent it from becoming a chronic condition. Don’t try to treat it yourself off the internet! Leave it in the hands of the trained experts.
Alberta
Alberta pro-life group says health officials admit many babies are left to die after failed abortions
From LifeSiteNews
Alberta’s abortion policy allows babies to be killed with an ‘induced cardiac arrest’ before a late-term abortion and left to die without medical care if they survive.
A Canadian provincial pro-life advocacy group says health officials have admitted that many babies in the province of Alberta are indeed born alive after abortions and then left to die, and because of this are they are calling upon the province’s health minister to put an end to the practice.
Official data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI), which is the federal agency in charge of reporting the nation’s health data, shows that in Alberta in 2023-2024, there were 133 late-term abortions. Of these, 28 babies were born alive after the abortion and left to die.
As noted by Prolife Alberta’s President Murray Ruhl in a recent email, this means the reality in the province is that “some of these babies are born alive… and left to die.”
“Babies born alive after failed late-term abortions are quietly abandoned—left without medical help, comfort, or even a chance to survive,” noted Ruhl.
This fact was brought to light in a recent opinion piece published in the Western Standard by Richard Dur, who serves as the executive director of Prolife Alberta.
Ruhl observed that Dur’s opinion piece has “got the attention of both Alberta Health Services (AHS) and Acute Care Alberta (ACA),” whom he said “confirmed many of the practices we exposed.”
Alberta’s policy when it comes to an abortion committed on a baby older than 21 weeks allows that all babies are killed before being born, however this does not always happen.
“In some circumstances… the patient and health practitioner may consider the option of induced fetal cardiac arrest prior to initiating the termination procedures,” notes Alberta Health Services’ Termination of Pregnancy, PS-92 (PS-92, Section 6.4).
Ruhl noted that, in Alberta, before an “abortion begins, they stop the baby’s heart. On purpose. Why? Because they don’t want a live birth. But sometimes—the child survives. And what then?”
When it comes to the same policy for babies older that 21 weeks, the policy states, “For terminations after 21 weeks and zero (0) days there must be careful consideration and documentation concerning a Do Not Resuscitate order in anticipation of a possible live birth.” (PS-92, Section 6.4).”
Ruhl observed that the reality is, “They plan in advance not to save her—even if she’s born alive.”
If the baby is born alive, the policy states, “Comfort measures and palliative care should be provided.” (PS-92, Section 6.4).
This means, however, that there is no oxygen given, no NICU, “no medical care,” noted Ruhl.
“Their policies call this ‘palliative care.’ We call it what it is: abandonment. Newborns deserve care—not a death sentence,” he noted.
As reported by LifeSiteNews recently, a total of 150 babies were born after botched abortions in 2023-2024 in Canada. However, it’s not known how many survived.
Only two federal parties in Canada, the People’s Party of Canada, and the Christian Heritage Party, have openly called for a ban on late abortions in the nation.
Policy now under ‘revision’ says Alberta Health Services
Ruhl said that the province’s policies are now “under revision,” according to AHS.
Because of this, Ruhl noted that now is the time to act and let the province’s Health Minister, Adriana LaGrange, who happens to be pro-life, act and “demand” from her real “action to protect babies born alive after failed abortions.”
The group is asking the province to do as follows below:
- Amend the AHS Termination of Pregnancy policy to require resuscitative care for any baby born with signs of life, regardless of how the birth occurred.
- Require that these newborns receive the same level of care as any other premature baby. Newborns deserve care—not a death sentence.
- Recognize that these babies have a future—there is a literal waiting list of hundreds of families ready to adopt them. There is a home for every one of them.
While many in the cabinet and caucus of Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s United Conservative government are pro-life, she has still been relatively soft on social issues of importance to conservatives, such as abortion.
Alberta
Alberta health care blockbuster: Province eliminating AHS Health Zones in favour of local decision-making!
Hospital Based Leadership: Eliminating the bureaucratic vortex in hospitals
Since Alberta’s government announced plans to refocus the health care system in November 2023, a consistent message has emerged from patients, front-line health care workers and concerned Albertans alike about the flaws of the prior system. Alberta Health Services’ current zone-based leadership structure is overly complex and bureaucratic. It lacks the flexibility and responsiveness needed to effectively support facilities and staff – particularly when it comes to hiring, securing supplies and adopting necessary technologies.
That’s why Alberta’s government is changing to a hospital-based leadership structure. On-site leadership teams will be responsible for hiring staff, managing resources and solving problems to effectively serve their patients and communities. Hospitals will now have the flexibility to respond, freedom to adapt and authority to act, so they can meet the needs of their facilities, patients and workforce in real time.
“What works in Calgary or Edmonton isn’t always what works in Camrose or Peace River. That’s why we’re cutting through bureaucracy and putting real decision-making power back in the hands of local hospital leaders, so they can act fast, hire who they need and deliver better care for their communities.”
“Hospital-based leadership ensures decisions on hiring, supplies and services are made efficiently by those closest to care – strengthening acute care, supporting staff and helping patients get the timely, high-quality care they need and deserve.”
“By rethinking how decisions are made, we’re working to improve health care through a more balanced and practical approach. By removing delays and empowering our on-site leaders, we’re giving facilities the tools to respond to real-time needs and ultimately provide better care to Albertans.”
AHS’ health zones will be eliminated, and acute care sites will be integrated into the seven regional corridors. These sites will operate under a new leadership model that emphasizes site-level performance management. Clear expectations will be set by Acute Care Alberta, and site operations will be managed by AHS through a hospital-based management framework. All acute care sites will be required to report to Acute Care Alberta based on these defined performance standards.
“Standing up Acute Care Alberta has allowed AHS to shift its focus to hospital-based services. This change will enable the local leadership teams at those hospitals to make site-based decisions in real and tangible ways that are best for their patients, families and staff. Acute Care Alberta will provide oversight and monitor site-level performance, and I’m confident overall hospital performance will improve when hospital leadership and staff have more authority to do what they know is best.”
“AHS is focused on reducing wait times and improving care for patients. By shifting to hospital-based leadership, we’re empowering hospital leaders to make real-time decisions based on what’s happening on the ground and respond to patient needs as they arise. It also means leaders can address issues we know have been frustrating, like hiring staff where they’re needed most and advancing hospital operations. This change enables front-line teams to act on ideas they see every day to improve care.”
The Ministry of Hospital and Surgical Health Services, Acute Care Alberta and Alberta Health Services will work collaboratively to design and establish the new leadership and management model with an interim model to be established by November 2025, followed by full implementation by summer 2026.
Quick facts
- Countries like the Netherlands and Norway, and parts of Australia have already made the shift to hospital-based leadership.
- The interim hospital-based leadership model will be implemented at one site before being implemented provincewide.
- Hospital-based leadership, once implemented, will apply only to AHS acute care facilities. Other acute care organizations will not be affected at the time of implementation.
Related information
How Chinese State-Linked Networks Replaced the Medellín Model with Global Logistics and Political Protection
New RCMP program steering opioid addicted towards treatment and recovery
We need an immigration policy that will serve all Canadians
EU investigates major pornographic site over failure to protect children
-
Health2 days agoLast day and last chance to win this dream home! Support the 2025 Red Deer Hospital Lottery before midnight!
-
conflict2 days ago“Evacuate”: Netanyahu Warns Tehran as Israel Expands Strikes on Iran’s Military Command
-
Energy1 day agoKananaskis G7 meeting the right setting for U.S. and Canada to reassert energy ties
-
Business1 day agoCarney’s Honeymoon Phase Enters a ‘Make-or-Break’ Week
-
Energy2 days agoCould the G7 Summit in Alberta be a historic moment for Canadian energy?
-
Aristotle Foundation2 days agoThe Canadian Medical Association’s inexplicable stance on pediatric gender medicine
-
Alberta1 day agoAlberta announces citizens will have to pay for their COVID shots
-
conflict1 day agoIsrael bombs Iranian state TV while live on air