Carpal tunnel is a workplace concern

Carpal tunnel is classic repetitive strain. Office workers spend a significant percentage of their life in front of computers; often the only active parts of the body are the hands and fingers. As more jobs shift into white-collar office scenarios, it’s conceivable that this problem will grow unless we take preventative action. Already, as much as 5% of the working population is thought to suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome. 

A proactive approach to preventing carpal tunnel syndrome

• Start with ergonomics: a properly adjusted work station is the first step in minimizing any form of repetitive strain. For carpal tunnel specifically, you want to ensure that your keyboard is at elbow height or slightly lower and that your wrists rest with support on the desk
• Adjust your posture: every office worker benefits from sitting in as close to neutral posture as possible. Whether this means using a lumbar pillow to support the natural curvature of your spine, upgrading your office chair or adjusting monitor height, do whatever it takes to get your spine in a comfortable, low-pressure seated posture.
• Take breaks as often as possible: ideally you would take your hands off the keyboard and give them a stretch every half hour. If not, try to target once an hour. 
• Stretch your hands: gently bend your wrist up and down, then flex and bend the fingers gently as well.

These tips help you minimize inflammation in the wrists and fingers, reducing the chance for carpal tunnel syndrome.

Individualized solutions for the workplace at Holmes Chiropractic

At Holmes Chiropractic, we are in the business of helping office workers design workplace solutions that reduce the trauma of tasks that cause repetitive strain. If your body is suffering from your job or lifestyle, give our office in Houston a call to schedule an appointment today. We want to help you make simple changes that will have large impacts on your suffering from workplace related injuries.