The Role of Ergonomics in Preventing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Anyone who spends a lot of time on computers or performing repetitive tasks with their hands will tell you that carpal tunnel syndrome is not a figment of your imagination. Carpal tunnel syndrome is a debilitating condition that impacts 4-10 million Americans every year. Jonathan* can certainly attest to that. After years of nimbly using old-school controllers as a professional gamer, combined with his day job as a data entry clerk at a local IT company, he began to develop symptoms of this repetitive stress injury. He frequently had numbness and tingling in his hands, shooting pains along his wrists, and even occasional hand weakness. Thankfully, Jonathan’s case wasn’t nearly as severe as it could have been. Not to mention, he quickly found a new lease on his gaming lifestyle thanks to several ergonomic devices that he now uses religiously.

Ergonomics is not a new concept. The idea of it has been around for centuries. The goal is to buck the trend of humans having to adjust to workspace tools. Instead, it introduces innovative alternatives that fit the user’s needs and reduce strain on the entire body, especially the hands, wrists, fingers, and forearms—the areas most affected by carpal tunnel. Everything, from the position of your keyboard to the angle of your wrist when holding a mouse or controller, can make a difference. Furthermore, ergonomic can either reduce the likelihood of developing carpal tunnel or help you manage existing symptoms more effectively.

Ergonomic Shifts Can Help These Carpal Tunnel Symptoms

• Numbness and tingling
• Pins and needles sensations
• Painful burning or shooting pains along the hand, wrist, or forearm
• Pain
• Muscle cramps
• Hand weakness
• Morning stiffness in fingers and hands
• Difficulty grasping or using one’s hand
• Hot and cold sensations

The Rise of Ergonomic Devices: How They Help Carpal Tunnel

While the word “ergonomic” may still be a slightly newer term for many people, some researchers have traced its origins back to the beginning of human civilization, when early humans began creating tools to make tasks easier. That push has not slowed down. If anything, it is even more of a necessity today, especially as more people work from home or spend extended hours in front of screens.

But it is also so much more than that. After all, we use our hands for everything, whether it is to plant flowers, lift weights, write lists or notes, carry grocery bags to and from the car, or prepare something to eat for breakfast. Beyond everyday life, a select few of us use our hands even more at work. This group of people includes everyone from writers to construction and assembly line workers, hairdressers, and musicians. Many of us are blessed to use our hands for all these tasks and more without pain, limitations, or cause for concern. But often, the repetitive nature of these activities can and will lead to carpal tunnel.

This syndrome is a painful condition where the median nerve, which runs the length of your arm into the palm of your hand, becomes pinched at the wrist. The median nerve provides feeling to your hand. When it is compressed, a person will experience a variety of symptoms, including those mentioned above. People who suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome typically only experience symptoms in the thumb and index, middle, and ring fingers on one hand. However, it can affect both hands simultaneously in severe cases. At first, carpal tunnel symptoms are mild and typically come and go. Eventually, it can become difficult to perform even simple tasks that require the use of your hands.

For years, we simply blamed the activities when we should have also been looking at the tools we were using. In many cases, researchers found that keyboards, controllers, chairs, desks, monitors, and other devices were not designed to cater to the human body.

We were adjusting ourselves to the tools when it should have been the other way around. This is where ergonomics comes into play.

Here are some of the most effective ergonomic options for carpal tunnel prevention:

• Ergonomic keyboards — While traditional flat keyboards are still the norm for many people, those who want to avoid carpal tunnel or reduce the pressure of existing symptoms can choose split or tented versions. This reduces pressure on the wrists and allows for greater freedom in hand angles, fostering a more natural, neutral position.
• Vertical mice — A traditional mouse keeps the hand in a flat position. While this may not seem like an issue to someone who is not experiencing symptoms, the idea is that it can aggravate the wrist over time. A vertical mouse and trackball minimize wrist movement and allow for a more relaxed grip.
• Wrist rests and mouse pads with support — Even if you can’t seem to break your dependence on a traditional mouse when using the computer, there are wrist rests available to support the wrist naturally. As a result, it is much harder for the median nerve to become compressed.
• Ergonomic chairs and desks — One of the top preventive methods for carpal tunnel syndrome is maintaining proper posture. In many ways, the same can be said for any musculoskeletal pain we experience. In today’s tech-savvy world, there are office chairs that support your arms and desks that can be adjusted to the right height. As a result, your wrists stay in the correct position while you type or use a mouse.
• Ergonomic pens and writing tools — If you have experienced pain while writing by hand, you’re not alone. And doing so can aggravate carpal tunnel if done frequently. Ergonomic pens provide a better grip and require less finger pressure to use properly, which helps alleviate tension in the fingers and wrist.
• Monitor risers — To piggyback on the previous benefit, many monitors come with the option to raise the screen up and down. By doing so and keeping your screen at eye level, hunching over at your desk is reduced, which also keeps your hands and wrists in proper alignment throughout the day.

Will Ergonomics Help Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Go Away on Its Own?

There is no guarantee that your carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms will go away on their own, even with improved posture and the use of ergonomic tools. However, it does not hurt to try. There are plenty of statistics to support this claim. In a study conducted by Cornell University, 38 office workers participated to investigate the benefits of maintaining a neutral wrist position. Twenty-three of those workers were tested using various combinations of traditional keyboards on a desk or conventional trays, with or without wrist rests. These same volunteers were again tested three weeks after using an ergonomic option. Fifteen other volunteers, who served as a control group, were also tested twice, although no changes were made to their workstations. The study concluded that hands moved within a neutral zone 67% of the time, compared with 42% with other keyboard arrangements. Furthermore, predicted pressure in the carpal tunnel remained below the critical threshold 82% of the time.

Additionally, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration states that applying ergonomic principles in the workplace can substantially reduce musculoskeletal disorders, which include carpal tunnel syndrome. This leads to additional benefits, including but not limited to the following:

• Preventing repetitive stress injuries
• Reducing pain and discomfort
• Increase productivity
• Reduced healthcare and workers’ compensation costs
• Increased employee morale
• Long-term health

If you are experiencing symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, the key is to get an early diagnosis. Your hand doctor will conduct a thorough examination of your hands, fingers, and wrists to determine if your symptoms are related to carpal tunnel or something else. In some cases, your physician may order X-rays, ultrasound, MRI, and other lab tests to check for any other potential abnormalities. From there, treatment is typically conservative initially to assess the patient’s response. This can include rest, medication, splinting, and maybe even surgery.

Fort Worth Hand Center Has Solutions for Your Carpal Tunnel Symptoms

Do you suffer from wrist and hand pain? Are you worried about whether you have carpal tunnel syndrome? From the fingertips to the elbow, the Fort Worth Hand Center physicians treat a wide range of conditions, including sports injuries, joint replacement, chronic conditions, age-related complications, trauma, and carpal tunnel syndrome. Many times, these ailments do not improve on their own—even with ergonomic interventions—and require skilled medical help from someone who truly understands your situation and how muscles, tendons, ligaments, and cartilage function. Our team of orthopedic surgeons at Fort Worth Hand Center is here to help when you need it most.

Fort Worth Hand Center offers expert care for all finger, hand, and wrist injuries. Our surgeons are specialists in treating chronic conditions and traumatic injuries, as well as performing state-of-the-art complex microscopic nerve repairs and tendon transfers. However, before any of that happens, our goal is to conduct a thorough examination to determine the best course of action. Sometimes, it may be surgery. Other times, a more conservative approach is appropriate.

If surgery is your best treatment, our orthopedic physicians operate in state-of-the-art, accredited surgery centers. To schedule an appointment, call 817-877-3277 or complete the form below.

Prior to starting any new treatment or if you have questions regarding a medical condition, always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health provider. This information is not a substitute for professional medical advice.

Fort Worth Hand Center serves the DFW area, including Hurst, Keller, Kennedale, Lakeside, Lake Worth, Mansfield, Newark, North Richland Hills, Pantego, Pelican Bay, Richland Hills, River Oaks, Saginaw, Sansom Park, Southlake, Trophy Club, Watauga, Westlake, Westover Hills, Westworth Village, White Settlement, Arlington, Azle, Bedford, Benbrook, Blue Mound, Burleson, Colleyville, Crowley, Dallas, Dalworthington Gardens, Edgecliff Village, Euless, Everman, Flower Mound, Forest Hill, Fort Worth, Grand Prairie, Grapevine, Haltom City, Haslet, and all of North Texas.

*Patient names and/or photos may be changed to protect patient confidentiality.