An Overview of Carpal Tunnel Exercises

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a disorder that can strike anyone. Men are less likely to get it than women, which might be due to the fact that women have a smaller carpal tunnel, and you are more likely to get it in your dominant hand than the other. Diabetes and disorder that affect your metabolism can contribute to the likelihood of developing this disease, and mostly, it is adults that get it.

While there is little proof that repetitive movements of the hand and wrist actually cause carpal tunnel syndrome, it does seem to affect those in assembly line work much more frequently. This can be anything from sewing, cleaning, meat packing or manufacturing. A study by the Mayo Clinic in 2001 did not show that computer use increased the risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome. They studied people performing 7 hours per day of computer work. Nonetheless, many typists and data entry personnel find themselves afflicted with this condition every year.

When this disorder is present in your life, you may find that you are going to end up missing work due tot he pain. Some people miss upwards of ten days of work from pain alone, and the surgery that fixes severe case can come with a long recovery time. When you combine time off of work as well as the medical costs for carpal tunnel care, you will discover that you are looking at something like 30,000 dollars.

Because of this huge impact on those afflicted with this condition, it is important to learn how to prevent it from occurring if possible. Prevention can be practiced at home and at work. This is especially important if you are predisposed to developing carpal tunnel syndrome.

While you are work, make sure that you take periodic breaks to stretch your hands and wrists. Your wrists need rest and when you want to make sure that your wrists stay in a good position for your work, you may find that a wrist splint is necessary. Use good posture and make sure that you sit correctly. You may want to wear fingerless gloves to keep up your flexibility. If at all possible, you need a workstation, tools and equipment that is designed to keep your body in an optimal position for your work. Ideally, tasks should be spread out among different people and ergonomic design for everything can help keep your workplace much healthier and happier.

When you are home, make sure that you vary your tasks and that you don’t do the same thing for hours at a time. Get up and stretch once in a while and do exercises that will help you relax your wrists and fingers. Remember that your wrists should not be working so hard! Use ice packs to alleviate fatigue.

If you suffer from illnesses such as diabetes, arthritis or other disorders that increase the possibility of developing carpal tunnel syndrome, see your doctor so you can keep them under control. Take your medication and follow your doctor’s advice on maintaining your health.

If you suspect that you might have carpal tunnel syndrome, it is vitally important that you take the time to get it diagnosed. The sooner you know what you are dealing with, the better off you are going to be, and the more likely it is that stretching and exercise will be all that is required to put you to rights.

Think carpal tunnel exercises are intimidating? Many people who are suffering from the pain of carpal tunnel syndrome are afraid to try new exercises, but the truth is, there are many easy, simple carpal tunnel exercises that can actually ease the pain and numbness associated with CTS. Click on that link to discover an easy way to relieve your symptoms!