Finger Numbness and Tingling (Median Nerve Mobilization)

Today’s video covers two of the best exercises for treating finger numbness and tingling. The exercises in this video are median nerve mobilizations, which will help with pain, numbness and tingling in the thumb, index, middle and ring fingers. The median nerve is the only nerve that passes through the carpal tunnel, which is the most common site for developing a compression neuropathy in the human body. Carpal tunnel syndrome can cause hand weakness, numbness, tingling and pain in the thumb, index finger, middle finger and a portion of the ring finger.
Besides numbness and tingling in the fingers, some people with general neck pain and nerve pain farther up the arm find this mobilization to be helpful.
1. The first exercise is a more common median nerve mobilization, but was only found to cause 6.6mm of movement at the carpal tunnel.
2. The second exercise shown here is a relatively new median nerve mobilization technique (see research citation at bottom) that was found to create 13.8mm of nerve slide in the carpal tunnel.
Even though the second technique created more movement at the carpal tunnel, both techniques were fairly equal in terms of how much they moved the median nerve more proximally. So, experiment with both and figure out what works best for you and your symptoms.
Reference: Meng S, et al. Longitudinal gliding of the median nerve in the carpal tunnel: Ultrasound cadaveric evaluation of conventional and novel concepts of nerve mobilization. Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation. 2015.
*My new book contains comprehensive rehab programs for the 50 most common injuries and pain issues, including one for the median nerve and carpal tunnel syndrome. Click the link below to learn more and order a copy! a.co/d/1q3BjgP
00:00 Introduction
00:40 Median vs Ulnar Nerve
01:13 Mobilization #1
02:43 Mobilization #2
04:19 Program in My Book

[@RehabScience]

My book has comprehensive rehab programs for the 50 most common injuries and pain issues, including a program for the median nerve and carpal tunnel syndrome. Click the Amazon link below to learn more about my book. Rehab Science: How to Overcome Pain and Heal from Injury a.co/d/dPdpyjz

[@flaviacoutinho4311]

Thank you for this exercise,IAM suffering this pain from years

[@sputnikmoonchild]

I have Ehlers-Danlos hypermobility, and am pretty much permanently injured. I cannot wait for your book to arrive. Your videos have helped me manage the pain and acute symptoms hugely. Thank you.

[@RehabScience]

I’m so glad my videos have helped you! Thank you for ordering a copy of my book!

[@jocev3510]

I’ve had this pain for over a month and I just tried this, finally some relief! Thank you!

[@RehabScience]

So glad the mobilizations helped you!

[@wellspring2life-]

Thanks for the tip.

[@RehabScience]

No problem!

[@brightflower144]

Excellent! thank you!

[@RehabScience]

You’re welcome!

[@Animeshorts1619]

Thanks for sharing.👍

[@RehabScience]

You’re welcome!

[@sarahtco3230]

Awesome THANKS!!! Did it twice and felt relief I’ll work on this I feel like mine stems from bad shoulder sleeping and a terrible mattress! I’ve been looking crazy at work with my arm in the air and out to the side. Thanks for giving me more direction… I was close! ~former nurse, current radio sales! This will help me keep the smile I depend on even on the worst day!

[@RehabScience]

I am so glad that the video and exercises were helpful!

[@sharonmitchel1377]

Thank you for recommending this to me! I have had some neck discomfort on the same side as the painful wrist and hand. I ordered a brace for sleeping and will do these exercises.

[@RehabScience]

No problem! I hope these exercises help you!

[@shraddhajha4185]

Thank you

[@RehabScience]

You’re welcome!

[@dster9999]

I have RA. Started Methotrexate. Still pain and tingling in my hands. Will try this, hopefully it will help.

[@RehabScience]

Sorry to hear you are struggle with these types of symptoms. I hope the exercises offer you some relief.

[@patmccluskey7504]

I started doing dead lifts 3 months ago the 2 months later this exactly happened. tingle tightness and numbness in thumb index middle and half ring. I stopped doing the dead lifts,the annoyance is still in my fingers almost a burn under the nails n finger. The doctor chalked it up to golfers elbow and gave me a compression brace. It did nothing. Its definitely the median nerve in my Wrist. I hope these exercises help it go away.

[@user-on4si6rm1h]

I get increasing pain in my pronator teres muscle when I do this stretch, is that okay or is the stretch meant to relieve the pain? Think I compressed my median nerve in the gym when going from an overhead press into a deadlift and dropping the weight quite fast, caused lots of pins and needles. Then 3 days later woke up with a numb thumb

[@portablefarming5306]

Please help! I used the lawn mower for a couple of hours, now my fingers are numb and lack coordination. Its been over 24hours, what can i do ?

[@PreetiSharma014]

Hello Dr where is your location (clinic) ? Do you see patients in person?

[@RehabScience]

I’m not taking new patients right now due to being busy with other projects.

[@philiploveswatcheswhiskies9832]

Thanks for information great video and instructions 😊

[@RehabScience]

You’re welcome! I’m glad the video was helpful!

[@kenl3805]

I have pain on the top of my hands and extending up through my forearm. Do you have any nerve videos for that?

[@RehabScience]

For that area, you will want to try the exercises in my radial nerve mobilization video. Here is a link. kzbin.info/www/bejne/a5rPgmqbiaqJsJosi=YLqMUYhhXJgxqQOb

[@janetwyatt8676]

I have the numbness and also a clicking in my neck.

[@jboll84]

I’ve lost a significant amount of strength in my arm along with these symptoms. Is this common?

[@RehabScience]

If the nerve is severely compromised, the muscles that it goes to can be weakened and atrophy.

[@r0ckamped]

I having numbness on my middle finger. Specifically on top of my middle finger. That’s after I carried shopping bags and carry it using my finger. I carry shopping bags for 30-45 minutes. But 1 hour just past, and still I am feeling the numbness of my middle finger, top of my finger. The rest fingers are working fine only the middle finger.

[@RehabScience]

The median nerve mobilization exercises in this video will help the nerves in your middle finger. However, it may be that the way you were carrying the shopping bags compressed one of the branches of the median nerve and it simply needs a bit of time to heal.

[@AlanJ57]

So the pain and numbness could be caused by poor blood flow?

[@RehabScience]

Yes, that is possible, but is less common. There is a condition called vascular thoracic outlet syndrome that affects the blood vessels that travel down the arm and could affect sensation and create similar symptoms to a nerve condition.

[@Bakero21]

I tried this exercise makes my hand more painful and numb😢

[@RehabScience]

In that case, you likely need to modify these exercises or try something else. If the nerve symptoms worsen, it’s a sign that the movement is too stressful for the nerve’s current stage of healing.