Protecting Against Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome consistently ranks as one of the most common types of muskuloskeletal disorders (MSDs) in the world. In the United States, statistics show that roughly 5% of the adult population suffers from this medical condition. Like other MSDs, however, carpal tunnel syndrome can range from minor to severely debilitating. In some people, it may only cause mild, temporary pain. In other people, it cause sharp, debilitating pain that prevents the individual from moving his or her wrist. So, what steps can you take to protect against carpal tunnel syndrome?

Take Breaks

Because it's classified as a repetitive motion injury, you should try to get into the habit of taking breaks from wrist-engaging activities. If you work in a job that requires you to type or write for multiple hours a day, for example, take a short 5-minute break after hour or so. During this time, you should avoid all wrist movements so that your wrists have a time to recuperate.

Stretch

Stretching your hands, arms and writs can also lower your risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome. There are dozens of stretching exercises that you can perform, one of which involves making a fist, followed by extending your fingers and repeating. It only takes a few minutes to perform a stretching exercise such as this, but doing so can improve the flexibility and mobility of your wrist, thus lowering your chance of developing MSDs like carpal tunnel syndrome.

Create an Ergonomic Workstation

A key risk factor of carpal tunnel syndrome is poor ergonomics. If your workstation isn't ergonomically designed, you'll have a greater risk of developing this condition. Therefore, it's recommended that you take a closer look at your workstation, optimizing it so that it doesn't cause unnecessary stress or tension. For a computer workstation, the top of your monitor should be roughly the same height as your eyes. Your workstation should also have a slide-out tray for the keyboard and mouse.

Apply Cold Compress

This isn't going to necessarily protect you from carpel tunnel syndrome, but it can ease the symptoms -- inflammation, pain, etc. -- if you begin to experience. When you feel the onset of carpal tunnel syndrome, apply a cold compress to the affected area or areas.

These are just a few tips to protect against carpal tunnel syndrome. Most importantly, though, remember to give your hands and wrists a break. Performing the same repetitive movements over and over will eventually lead to MSDs unless you take regular breaks.