Is Your Keyboard Hurting You?

Those twenty-page term papers can hurt more than just your GPA. Those long hours at your keyboard can lead to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS). CTS is caused by long-term, repetitive motions of the wrist, such as those used when typing. These motions cause the tendons in the carpal tunnel to swell and put pressure on the median nerve. Pressure on this nerve can cause severe pain in the wrists, hands, and arms, and if left untreated can eventually cause loss of function in these areas. In addition to typing, behaviors such as sleeping on your hands, playing an instrument repeatedly, using power tools, and doing excessive amounts of writing may lead to CTS.

Symptoms: Signs of CTS include numbness, tingling, burning, or pain in your hands arms, or wrists. Some sufferers also experience feelings of weakness in their fingers and/or a reduced ability to squeeze their hands. The symptoms often increase at night.

Prevention: To help prevent CTS, keep your wrists in a neutral position and maintain good sitting posture while you work. Try to type using a light touch, with your elbows bent at a 90° angle. Take frequent breaks for at least five to ten minutes every hour. Try to alternate your tasks, so that you do not spend more than an hour or two at a time at your keyboard. Also, be sure to warm up your hands by stretching your fingers and wrists before you begin.