Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Prevention

Because carpal tunnel syndrome is usually caused by multiple factors—including health conditions and activities—the most important step in preventing it is to take good care of your general health. This includes maintaining a healthy weight, not smoking, and getting regular exercise. Other steps to prevent carpal tunnel syndrome include the following:

• Keep your arm, hand, and finger muscles strong and flexible.
• Stop any activity that you think may be causing finger, hand, or wrist numbness or pain.
• Use hand and wrist movements that spread the pressure and motion evenly throughout your hand and wrist.
• Switch hands and change positions often when you are doing repeated motions. Take breaks and rest your hands. Do exercises to flex and stretch your hands and wrists before work. For information about exercises, see Prevent Injuries America! by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, which is listed in the Other Places to Get Help section of this topic.
• Use correct posture.
• Restrict your salt intake if you tend to retain fluid.
• Wear a wrist splint to keep your wrist in a neutral position and reduce the stress on your fingers, hand, or wrist at times when you cannot control your wrist motion, such as while sleeping. See an illustration of a wrist splint.

Wrist care: Preventing carpal tunnel syndrome

If you feel that certain work activities are causing finger, hand, or wrist numbness or pain, talk to your human resources department for information about different ways of doing your job, changes in your equipment, other job assignments, or the possibility of an ergonomics evaluation of your work space and procedures.

In daily routines at home or while doing hobbies, consider changing activities in which you make repeated finger, hand, or wrist movements. Train yourself to use other positions or techniques that will not stress your hand or wrist.

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Author:	Monica Rhodes	Last Updated: November 3, 2006
Medical Review:	William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine David Pichora, MD, FRCSC - Orthopedic Surgery
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