Preventing carpal tunnel syndrome

USA Today (Society for the Advancement of Education), Oct, 1996

Orthopedic surgeons have developed special exercises that can help prevent carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). The exercises, which should be done at the start of each work shift and after each break, decrease the median nerve pressure responsible for CTS.

Moreover, their research also determined that newly diagnosed carpal tunnel syndrome patients should not do everyday activities such as ring a doorbell, hold a coffee cup, or push a shopping cart with the affected hand for the first seven to 10 days of conservative, nonsurgical treatment. These simple activities were found to increase intra-tunnel pressure on the median nerve of the wrist substantially, thus worsening the condition, explains Houshang Seradge, clinical assistant professor of orthopedic surgery, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.

"Any hand/wrist movement will actually reduce the benefit obtained by wearing a wrist brace/splint," he points out. Standard conservative treatment for CTS is the splint plus anti-inflammatory medication, for several weeks. For optimal effect, the patient's hand must be immobilized completely - except for regimented hourly exercises - for at least one week. Then the patient slowly can go back to simple activities.

Seradge indicates that workers with hand-intensive jobs should do a five-minute exercise warm-up before starting work, just as runners stretch before a run to prevent injury. Depending on the type of work, employees also should do a slow isometric and isotonic exercise for posturing and toning of neck and arms. In addition to keyboard operators, factory workers, and typists, those at risk for carpal tunnel syndrome include people whose jobs require holding actions, such as barbers and bus drivers.