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This Month's e-Health Tip:
Lighten Up and Save Your Wrists
Are you crunching the keys on your keyboard as hard as you crunch numbers for a deadline? Are you snapping out those snappy email retorts with plenty of wrist action? Your forcefulness may be contributing to the modern scourge of the computer user -- painful carpal tunnel syndrome.
Striking the keyboard harder than necessary may be a contributing factor when it comes to hand and arm pain, researchers reported in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. The researchers looked at computer users who already had reported hand and arm pain and numbness--often a sign of carpal tunnel syndrome. The researchers then divided them into two groups -- based on pain levels -- then measured their typing actions.
Both groups used more strength on the keyboard than needed. But those with more severe symptoms struck the keyboard with more force than their less hard-hitting counterparts.
You can avoid this kind of pain by becoming self aware, the researchers said. Be aware of situations that may lead you to type more aggressively than needed such as a deadline or an online chat. Then make a conscious effort to type more gently.
You also may want to try out alternative keyboards to find one that gives you the key "action" you crave while rushing to finish a task or explain a point online.
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Copyright © 2008. The Healthy Basket.
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