Preventing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a painful nerve condition that affects millions of Americans. Usually caused by repetitive movements such as typing or using tools, carpal tunnel syndrome causes pain, muscle weakness, numbness, and at times the loss of the ability to use the hands for many daily tasks. Uncapping a pill bottle, writing a shopping list, or turning the ignition key in the car are just a few of the common tasks that can be made almost impossible by carpal tunnel syndrome.

However, most people cannot simply decide to stop performing the repetitive tasks that can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome. It is not usually practical to quit a job or rearrange daily life to eliminate all risk factors for this syndrome. But that doesn't mean that there is nothing that people can do to prevent developing this painful and potentially disabling condition. By taking a few minutes a day to perform some basic, simple preventative steps, the risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome can be drastically reduced.

The carpal tunnel is a tiny space between the small bones of the wrists, through which runs a nerve. When the wrists are stressed by repetitive movements, the inflammation from the damaged wrist tissues can cause this little gap to become obstructed. The pressure on the nerve causes the majority of carpal tunnel syndrome's most common symptoms, such as pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness.

Therefore, one of the best ways to prevent carpal tunnel syndrome is to reduce or prevent inflammation and stress on the wrists. For typists and people who spend a great deal of time using the computer, investing in an ergonomic desk chair, keyboard, and mouse is definitely money well spent. Maintaining good posture using a well-adjusted desk chair helps relieve strain on the shoulders and arms. Using an ergonomic keyboard and mouse keeps the wrists in a more natural position, reducing stress on the tendons and muscles of the hands and forearms. Wearing wrist splints or carpal tunnel braces can also help to keep the hands and wrists in proper alignment.

Preventing straining the tendons and muscles also means that workers should take rest breaks frequently. During these rest breaks, gentle stretching exercises can relieve muscle fatigue and help to prevent or dissipate inflammation. Placing the palms flat on the desk while standing and gently leaning forward until a gentle stretching sensation is felt at the inner wrist and forearm is a commonly recommended stretch. By taking these simple preventative measures, carpal tunnel syndrome can often be prevented and the symptoms minimized.