Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - Prevention

Good Office Furniture. Poorly designed office furniture is a major contributor to bad posture. Chairs should be adjustable for height, with a supportive backrest. Employers should be advised that the higher cost of a custom designed chair for a worker whose body does not fit a standard chair is still far less than the medical or absentee costs of an injured employee.

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Voice Recognition Software. For CTS patients who must use a computer frequently, a variety of voice recognition software packages (ViaVoice, VoiceXpress, Dragon NaturallySpeaking, IListen) are now available, enabling virtually hands-free computer use.

Keyboard and Mouse Tips. Anyone using a keyboard and mouse has some options that may help protect the hands.

The tension of the keys should be adjusted so they can be depressed without excessive force.
The hands and wrists should remain in a relaxed position to avoid excessive force on the keyboard.
A 2003 study suggested that mouse-use poses a higher risk than keyboard use. Replacing the mouse with a trackball device and the standard keyboard with a jointed-type keyboard are helpful substitutions.
Wrist rests, which fit under most keyboards, can help keep the wrists and fingers in a comfortable position.
Some people recommend keeping the computer mouse as close to the keyboard and the computer user's body as possible to reduce shoulder muscle movement.
The mouse should be held lightly with the wrist and forearm relaxed. New mouse supports (ErgoCat) are also available that relieve stress on the hand and support the wrist.
Some people cut their mouse pads in half to reduce movement.

Innovative keyboard designs may improve hand stress:

Alternative geometry keyboards (Microsoft Natural Keyboard, Apple Adjustable Keyboard) allow the user to adjust and modify hand positions as well as adjust key tension. Most have a split or "slanted" keyboard that places the wrists at an angle. Studies suggest they are useful in promoting a neutral position for the wrist.
The continuous passive motion (CPM) keyboard lifts and declines gently and automatically every three minutes to break tension on the hands and wrist. A report of a clerical worker with CTS who used this device found an overall improvement of 10 words per minute in the typing tests, a decrease in disability score and symptom severity, and an improvement in function.
A keyless keyboard (OrbiTouch) is an innovative device that uses two domes. The typist covers the domes with his or her hands and slides them into different positions that represent letters.