How to Prevent the Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)
Are you active with your hands? Do you do physically strenuous activities which require heavy lifting with your hands? Do you work with your computer for hours? If your answer is yes, then you are prone to the disease called “carpal tunnel syndrome” – a disease common to active computer users.
According to wikipedia, the carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) or median neuropathy at the wrist is a medical condition in which the median nerve is compressed at the wrist, leading to pain, paresthesias, and muscle weakness in the forearm and hand. A form of compressive neuropathy, CTS is more common in women than it is in men and has a peak incidence around age 42, though it can occur at any age. The lifetime risk for CTS is around 10% of the adult population.
Personally, I am convinced that repetitive activities which involve hand movements can cause CTS despite some articles pointing out an unclear correlation between the two variables. As of late, I am experiencing an early stage of CTS because of the cumulative pressure on my hands encoding. I do research offline. But research requires a lot of online time. My friends who own computer shops in Laoag City and Ilocos Norte experience the same discomfort because they, too, stay in front of their computers from 7am to 2am. In order to prevent further damage to our wrists and provide us with carpal tunnel relief, we all use a keyboard support – a wrist cushion that reduces impact and pressure on the wrists when the hands on the keyboard.
I’m a part-time blogger. I blog for about 3-4 hours a day but I’m an active writer. I write for offline use most of the time. I also run some businesses. My hands are active at work both offline and online. Actually, when I feel pain in my wrists, I simply stop working and take a day off. Health is wealth. A simple disease like CTS is something I can’t afford to have because it will lower my productivity as an individual. You too should protect your wrists.
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jessie reply on August 18th, 2008:
Deb,
That’s also one good practice to prevent spasms. Thanks for dropping by. I hope to see you around
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Hala..dapat pala meron ako nitong keyboard support hehe. Sa awa ng Dios..diko pa naman na feel yan pero maigi na ata yung handa..prevention is better than cure.
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Joy,
The keyboard support can be improvised. One of my buddies use a towel to support his wrist. He places the towel just below the keyboard area. It works.
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Naging problem ko rin yan dati, kaya may binili akong mouse na may hand-rest, keyboard support at keyboard na anti-RSI. Buti nga ngayon wla na akong discomfort.
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