A Basic Overview of Carpal Tunnel Exercises

Though women are more likely to get carpal tunnel syndrome than men are, the truth is that this condition affects people across the board. It is more likely that you will get it in your dominant hand than in your non-dominant hand, and if you have a condition like diabetes or other problems that stem from your metabolism, you’ll find that it can make you more susceptible in general. Mostly, this condition affects adults rather than children.

We are not sure that repetitive movements alone cause carpal tunnel syndrome, but the evidence does state that people who work in assembly line positions are more likely to develop it. This is something that can affect you whether you sew, work in meat packing, cleaning or manufacturing. According to a study done by the Mayo Clinic in 2001 shows that computer use does not clearly increase the risk of carpal tunnel syndrome, though many people who work in typists positions and data entry find themselves suffering from this common disorder.

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.

When you think about the huge impact that this condition can put on your life, taking a look at preventative measures is something that needs to be a priority. Both at home and at work, there are things that can help make you become less susceptible.

When you are work, make sure that you take time off to stretch and exercise your hands and wrists. These do not have to be long breaks, but you should rest periodically. Using wrist splints can help you keep your wrists in the right position while sitting correctly and maintaining good posture are essential. Some people use fingerless gloves to keep their hands warm and flexible, and if at all possible, make sure that your workstation, equipment and tools are all designed to keep your body in a happy position. Ideally, people should rotate from task to task in order to vary up their motions. Ergonomic design is lovely when you are looking into a good workspace.

At home, don’t sit and do the same task for several hours. Alternate your activities and don’t forget to get up and stretch. Exercises to relieve the strain on your wrist should be done frequently. Let your wrists rest. They don’t need to be working 24 hours a day. Ice packs can be applied occasionally if they feel fatigued.

Having disorders like diabetes and arthritis can increase your chance for developing carpal tunnel syndrome, so make sure that you keep in touch with your doctor on how to control it. Make sure that you take your medication and do your preventative exercises.

If you still develop carpal tunnel syndrome, don’t wait to get it diagnosed. The earlier you get treatment the more effective it is. If you start early, you can often avoid surgery and heal the condition through a regimen of stretching and exercising that will relieve the stress on your wrists.