Trigger Point Therapy - Nerve Entrapment Syndromes
Nerve Entrapment Syndromes - Stuart Hinds
Nerve Entrapment Syndromes
Nerve entrapments are not overly common but well worth exploring as trigger point therapy has been demonstrated to relieve symptoms.
In about half the cases of Cubital Tunnel Syndrome for example, studies have shown that clients will usually recover without the need for surgical intervention, and stress the importance of education to help clients avoid provocative movements such as protracted periods of elbow flexion.
In these cases, the clients rehabilitation can be greatly assisted with a program of trigger point therapy to help relieve the symptoms whilst the condition is slowly corrected over time.
In this blog we're going to take a brief look at the main nerve entrapment syndromes, their association with trigger points; and how and where trigger point therapy becomes relevant.
Anterior interosseous Nerve Syndrome (AINS)
Lesions of the anterior interosseous nerve in the forearm are rare and often misdiagnosed as tendon injuries. Wrist pain is the most common feature of AIN lesions regardless of the aetiology; this has been reported in 85% of patients.
Nerve lesions may be due to trauma, microtraumatic injuries or to "neuritis". The Anterior Interosseous Nerve (AIN) is an exclusively motor branch of the median nerve.
A complete lesion causes a characteristic deformity of pinch between the thumb and index finger (see "L" in the image below). AIN often resolves spontaneously, but trigger point therapy may be very beneficial in reducing the duration and intensity of symptoms.
Note: Areas of possible compression exist between the head of the Pronator Teres and the proximal tendon of Flexor Digitorum Superficialis.
Pronator Teres Syndrome (PTS)
Sometimes confused with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) compression may occur at several locations along the nerve path including the ligament of Struthers, the Lacertus Fibrosus and also the Flexor Digitorum Superficialis.
PTS is a rare but interesting case study that is thought by many to be directly related to trigger points in the Pronator Teres in the forearm.
A typical case would be a 30 year old female client with pain in the volar area of the forearm (portion of the forearm that is on the same side as the palm) for 2 months duration, reporting a gradual onset with no history of injury.
Pain is typically worse on working with the arm and in supination, and occasional radiation of pain to the wrist.
The client will also often report weakness of some hand flexor muscles. Interestingly, this is often the first symptom to respond when we treat trigger points in the Pronator Teres.
Radial Nerve Myogenic Entrapment
Often confused with ‘tennis elbow’ other names include ‘Saturday night Palsy’ and ‘Honeymoon Palsy’. Pain from Radial Nerve Entrapment is mainly experienced along the dorsal forearm from the elbow down to the wrist.
Pain is easily provoked with a mechanical challenge, for example opening a door, holding a glass of water, or even shaking hands - all of which may become excruciating. Over the years we've been able to treat most clients very effectively to relieve pain symptoms.
The main muscle to check for trigger points is the Supinator.
Ulnar Nerve Myogenic Entrapment
The three most common entrapments of the Ulnar Nerve are:
-
Guvon canal syndrome
-
Ulnar collateral ligament syndrome
- Cubital Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)
CTS (see below) is the most common, and it is the most readily treated using trigger point intervention whilst the Guvon Canal and Ulnar Collateral ligament are very deep and difficult to palpate.
Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
Sometimes known as ‘funny bone’ syndrome there is nothing funny about a traumatized Ulnar nerve!
The Ulnar Nerve is one of the three key nerves supplying sensation and power to the arm, wrist and hand.
It is positioned in a slightly vulnerable position in the Cubital Fossa where it can become traumatised by common postural behaviour such as leaning the elbows on armrests or a desk for prolonged periods.
Any intense physical activity that adds pressure to the nerve can cause Cubital Tunnel Syndrome (it is also sometimes caused by an abnormal bone growth in the elbow region) as it is a condition that is caused by compression to the ulnar nerve often by connective tissue or bone, but sometimes functionally by trigger points.
Typically these form in the Flexor Carpi Radialis and Ulnaris muscles.
When a trigger point develops, the host muscle becomes shorter, thicker, and less efficient. Because muscles are made up of 75% water, and the fact that water does not compress well, they become functionally swollen, which often leads to a taut band that can have further pressure effects on local tissues.
In fact, any change in shoulder, wrist or elbow mechanics over time may manifests in areas of tight muscles where trigger points may develop.
There is a well established trigger point therapy protocol for treating Cubital Tunnel Syndrome (Palmaris Longus, Flexors).
Most therapists will tell you that the results come pretty quickly, especially when the client is willing to adhere to a daily regime of self-massage and stretching exercises between treatments.
As a footnote, we should point out that CTS is more than twice as common in men. This is thought to be due to the fact that women have a slightly different elbow anatomy.
In men the arms are straighter whereas women have a larger ‘carrying angle’ to avoid bumping their hands into their wider pelvis. Women also have a larger fat content on the inner elbow overlying the funny bone prominence (the ulnar coronoid process).
Stuart Hinds is one of Australia's leading soft tissue therapists who recently (June 2016) received a lifetime achievement award from the Australian Massage Therapy Association. Stuart is a lecturer at Victoria University, Melbourne, on Soft Tissue Techniques, and has been part of the Australian Olympic manual therapy team for over 20 years (Sydney 2000, Athens 2004, Beijing 2008, London 2012).
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