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Contrary to popular belief, carpal tunnel can happen to anyone.
It’s not just people who sit behind desks all day, or for whom typing or driving is their job. Doctors are becoming more and more convinced that it’s not just overuse that makes it happen. Heredity, fluid retention, and rheumatoid arthritis, and diabetes can all come into play as well.
Carpal tunnel syndrome is characterized by burning, aching, or stiffness in the hands and wrists. Pain from CTS can sometimes even extend up your whole arm.
But carpal tunnel syndrome doesn’t have to be your life. Even if it is, you can at least do your best to minimize it.
Here are just a few ways to ease that darned unnecessary wrist pain.
- Sit up straight. Hunching your shoulders can put extra pressure on your wrists and hands that you don’t need. Keep your feet flat and your eyes forward, make sure your chair supports your back, and your hands and wrists should feel less of the pressure.
- Stretch your wrists. When you take your walking breaks or go to make your lunch or fill up your water bottle, stretch your wrist by bending your hand up and down at the wrist and holding the stretch for a minute or two in each direction. Do the same with your fingers.
- Don’t bang on the keys. You may not realize you’re banging on the keyboard as if you’re still using a typewriter. A light touch is plenty for most keyboards to type and it will take some stress off your hands too.
- Warm up your hands. If your office is cold, your muscles will be, too. Wear long sleeves, or even gloves if necessary, to keep those hands nice and warm.
- Give your hands some strength-training. Yoga has been found as a great way to keep wrists and hands flexible and strong.
