Everyday Tips to Avoid Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Your hands are extraordinarily versatile, and you rely on them for a wide variety of things, including writing, typing, eating, opening things, cooking, washing, holding objects, and so much more. Through something as simple as patting someone on the shoulder to creating a work of art through illustration, sculpture, or digital media, your hands are a vital part of how you express yourself.

The muscles, ligaments, and bones (carpals, metacarpals, and phalanges) in your hands allow for dexterity and movement unlike any other part of your body. If your hands are impaired it can make life far more difficult for you, and dealing with a condition like carpal tunnel syndrome can impact how well you use them. It is very common, affecting up to 9.6 million people, and leads to pain, numbness, and tingling in your hands. 

There are ways to avoid carpal tunnel syndrome, and to explore how you can do that, let’s examine what this condition is, its symptoms and causes, and what methods you can use to prevent it. If you live Dunedin, Largo, Riverview or St. Petersburg, Florida and you're having problems with carpal tunnel syndrome, Drs. Stephen Steller, Ryan Garcia, Justin Murray, and the medical team at Spinal Correction Centers can help.

What is carpal tunnel syndrome?

This is a condition named for the carpal tunnel, which is a narrow space surrounded by ligaments and bones on the front side of your hand (the palm). When the median nerve (a motor and sensory nerve that runs through the upper arm, wrist, and hand) is compressed, it inflames the carpal tunnel, leading to the following symptoms in your hand and arm. 

What are its symptoms and causes?

The signs of this condition can vary, and you’re likely to experience tingling in the fingers, decreased sensitivity in the fingertips, and problems performing simple tasks (holding or grasping objects, writing, or typing). Over time, it can worsen and lead to hand weakness and trouble with tasks like buttoning shirts or opening jars.

Common risk factors for this condition include repetitive motions, performing tasks with high force such as hammering, extreme wrist motions, wrist fractures, pregnancy, hand or wrist deformities, arthritis problems, alcoholism, and aging. 

How can you prevent it?

Here are some basic methods to avoid carpal tunnel syndrome:

• Avoid grasping objects too hard during manual tasks
• Avoid overbending your wrists (bending it all the way down or up)
• Work and sleep with your wrists straight
• Correct and maintain proper posture to reduce wrist strain
• Design your workspace to reduce strain on your wrists
• Take frequent breaks to give your wrists a rest
• Treat underlying diseases and conditions that can affect the median nerves, such as diabetes

If you’re working with computers frequently, a keyboard setup with an elevated surface can keep your wrists in a neutral position and help reduce strain.

If you’re unable to prevent carpal tunnel syndrome, and you’re experiencing painful symptoms, we can help. Make an appointment with one of our caring and skilled providers at Spinal Correction Centers today.