The Impact of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in Adolescents

Paylee Ochs

OTA 114

The Impact of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in Adolescents

Introduction

The human hand is one of the essential body parts because of its usefulness. We use our hands every day and in various activities. However, due to the strenuous activities that our hands need to fulfill, they are prone to different disorders. Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common upper extremity nerve entrapment. CTS affects the capability of the hands. Normal development is associated with typical functioning in daily living activities and includes normal motor and praxis as well as communication and interaction skills. Abnormal functioning and incapability of doing some skills may be associated with the presence of a disorder. Carpal tunnel syndrome is a disorder that largely affects the daily activities of an individual. It greatly affects the motor and praxis skills. It can hinder the performance of tasks and responsibilities that need the use of the hand. According Radomski and Trombly Latham (2007), carpal tunnel syndrome often occurs during ages of 40 to 60 years old. However, it is no longer an adult-specific disorder as it also affects children and adolescents ages 12 to 21 (Al-Qattan, Thomson & Clarke, 1996). Although cases of CTS in children are rare, the number of cases is increasing due to the influence of a wide array of factors.

Purpose of the paper

This paper aims to explore the prevalence of carpal tunnel syndrome in adolescents as well as the causes and implications of the occurrence CTS on development and performance in the target age group.

Organization of the Paper

The paper is divided into 7 parts namely introduction, Health problem identified, Impact of Health Problem on Occupational Performance Skills Impact of Health Problem on Occupational Performance—Performance Patterns. Contexts and Environments. Conclusion

Characteristics of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Anatomy of the Carpal Tunnel

The carpal tunnel is anatomically complex and located between the wrist and a thick fibrous tissue. This fibrous band functions as a support to the joint. The median nerve passes through the carpal tunnel and provides feeling to the muscles of the hand and the fingers. Shiel (2010) states that the median nerve receives the sensation from the thumb, index, and the middle fingers of the hand. Any change in the position or swelling in the tissue in the carpal tunnel can compress and irritate the median nerve. The irritation of the median nerve can cause numbness to the thumb, index, and middle fingers which are often referred to as carpal tunnel syndrome. Carpal tunnel syndrome can be a temporary condition or it can worsen and progress.

Signs and Symptoms of CTS

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a disorder that often results from the compression of the median nerve located in the wrist. Carpal tunnel syndrome often occurs during old age. It is associated with symptoms like numbness of the hands and fingers, pain along the wrist, and clumsiness or weakness in the hands. These symptoms are often felt at night and tend to wake up the person with CTS. This is ...