Kauai Physical Therapy Blog

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Basics

Now that most of us spend at least a small part of the day on a computer if not the entire work day, understanding Carpal Tunnel Syndrome becomes more important. With simple prevention techniques along with good nutrition and regular exercise you can protect yourself from the dangers of Carpal Tunnel.

Practice good ergonomics.

It is your right and personal responsibility to set up your work station with proper ergonomics. There are several simple steps to make sure you are not putting undue stress on your eyes, neck, back and wrists.

Position yourself properly at your computer. Your screen should be 18″ to 24″ away from you and the top of your document should be at eye level.

Set up your keyboard so that it is flat or slightly elevated. Do not have your keyboard slanted downward.

Keep your wrists straight and elbows in a 90 degree angle while typing.

Rest your wrists when you are not typing.

Take frequent short breaks rather than one long break.

Stretch your wrists before work, during breaks, and after work.

A personal assistant pops up on screen to stop over-use, teach good ergonomics, and keep track of scheduled breaks.

For advanced assistance, you can use ergonomic software such as MacBreakz for Apple, a sophisticated personal ergonomic assistant designed to promote healthy and productive computer use.