Wrist Pain & Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Wrist pain and actual injury is quite serious these days.  It’s not just athletes and musicians who are at risk either.  Now that we all spend huge chunks of our days typing, texting, and mousing, we are all at risk.  Before you write off wrist injury as an unlikely malady for you, please understand that anyone can come by it, and the more you type, mouse, or text, the more likely you are to actually experience problems with your wrists and hands.

To being, the main problem is the sensitive Carpal Tunnel area.  The median nerve, a main nerve running from the forearm to the hand, courses through the carpal tunnel along with tendons from the forearm. The tunnel is comprised of bones and a band of strong connective tissue. In carpal tunnel syndrome, the tendons become inflamed and compress the median nerve in the tunnel leading to the symptoms.  This condition is usually caused by improper posture and use of the wrists and hands, which is common for computer users.

Tips to Avoid & Relieve Wrist Pain

To avoid or relieve pain in this area, there are several things you can {and should!} do:

• Correct your posture.  You may not realize that there is proper and improper hand and wrist positioning.  Essentially, DON’T bend or cock your wrists.  DO everything you can to avoid cocking or bending of your wrists.  If you feel pain as you are typing, texting, or mousing, stop what you are doing and re-position yourself.
• Try ergonomic products.  In particular, an ergonomic keyboard is designed to better your hands, while an ergonomic mouse makes mousing more natural and less straining for your wrists.  Regardless of what keyboard and mouse you’re using, be sure to keep them side-by-side and on the same surface to reduce movement and therefore injury.  So, lastly, a keyboard tray will store both and at a lower spot so your arms, wrists, and hands can work more comfortably.
• Wear a wrist splint. If you’re already experiencing wrist pain, one of the trouble spots is night time.  So often, we flex our wrists and sleep with them in quite odd positions, never even aware of it.  Thus, wearing a wrist splint at night time can protect you from doing more harm.

Using an ergonomic keyboard and ergonomic mouse at work and wearing a wrist splint at night can greatly reduce wrist pain and injury.

Filed under: Category Uncategorized | Tags: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome,ergonomic keyboard,ergonomic mouse,keyboard tray,wrist pain,wrist splint by emily