Pain Medical Musing

Several years ago I listened to a talk on using nerve “flossing” mobilizations to help victim with hypermobility issues. This would stretch the nerve in their “tracts” and help reduce pain.

They were taught to do a routine -repeated like a dance –  with their arm that varied from
– arm up in “stick’um up position” with wrist fully extended like you were holding a tray
– arm straight out 90 degrees at side with wrist still bend up
– then move arm straight down behind you with wrist bend other way = fully flexed

then proceed to first position.

It was never clear how much difference this would make until present article did therapist led median nerve flossing 5 days a week for 6 weeks. The wait listed group did not change in pain level while the active group cut their pain by half.  Unfortunately, we don’t know about the placebo effect of active touching so it is not clear how much it actually helped.

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