Sunday, February, 12, 2012

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - Prevention

Table of Contents

  • Shaking or stretching the limbs
  • Leaning back in the chair
  • Squeezing the shoulder blades together
  • Taking deep breaths

Good Posture. Good posture is extremely important in preventing carpal tunnel syndrome, particularly for typists and computer users.

  • The worker should sit with the spine against the back of the chair with the shoulders relaxed.
  • The elbows should rest along the sides of the body, with wrists straight.
  • The feet should be firmly on the floor or on a footrest.
  • Typing materials should be at eye level so that the neck does not bend over the work.
  • Keeping the neck flexible and the head upright maintains circulation and nerve function to the arms and hands. One method for finding the correct head position is the "pigeon" movement. Keeping the chin level, glide the head slowly and gently forward and backward in small movements, avoiding neck discomfort.

Good Office Furniture. Poorly designed office furniture is a major contributor to bad posture. Chairs should be adjustable for height, with a supportive backrest. Custom-designed chairs, made for people who do not fit in standard chairs, can be expensive. However, these costs can save companies on the medical expenses that follow injuries related to bad posture.

Voice Recognition Software. For CTS patients who must use a computer frequently, a variety of voice recognition software packages (ViaVoice, Voice Xpress, Dragon NaturallySpeaking, MacSpeech) are available that allow virtually hands-free computer use.

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

  • Adjust the tension of the keys so they can be depressed without excessive force.
  • Keep the hands and wrists in a relaxed position to avoid excessive force on the keyboard.
  • Replace the mouse with a trackball device and the standard keyboard with a jointed-type keyboard.
  • Use wrist rests, which fit under most keyboards, to help keep the wrists and fingers in a comfortable position.
  • Keep the computer mouse as close to the keyboard and the user's body as possible, to reduce shoulder muscle movement.
  • Hold the mouse lightly, with the wrist and forearm relaxed. New mouse supports are also available that relieve stress on the hand and support the wrist.
  • Cut mouse pads in half to reduce movement.

Innovative keyboard designs may reduce hand stress:

  • Ergonomic keyboards allow the user to adjust and modify hand positions and key tension. Most have a split or "slanted" keyboard that places the wrists at an angle. Studies suggest these keyboards help keep the wrist in a more neutral position.
  • The continuous passive motion (CPM) keyboard lifts and declines gently and automatically every 3 minutes to break tension on the hands and wrist.
  • 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.

Review Date: 02/17/2011
Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)