Spending hours in front of your computer using your mouse and keyboard for extended periods of time can have serious consequences for your health: specifically, Carpel Tunnel Syndrome.
The carpel tunnel is found at the base of the palm and is formed by the wrist bones and the transverse ligament of the carpel. An increase in pressure in the tunnel affects the function of the nerve and can cause pain. Even though Carpel Tunnel Syndrome can be caused by various pathologies, an increase in pressure is usually the result of extensive use of the keyboard and mouse.
The Syndrome develops when the tunnel becomes inflamed the nerve compressed. The outcome can be numbness and pain in the hand and fingers. Numbness occurs with greater regularity in the thumb, index finger, middle finger, and ring finger. In general, the symptoms present themselves at night, but also during every day activities like driving and flipping through a magazine.
On occasion, patients experience diminishing strength in the fist that at times causes them to drop items. In severe cases, there can be a permanent loss of sensibility, and the muscles at the base of the thumb can atrophy.
It’s recommended that you see your doctor at the first sign of these symptoms. Your doctor will obtain a detailed medical history, investigate how you use your hands, and try to determine if there are other external factors that could have lead to the illness, like a blow to the hand, a fall, or a deformity.
Specialists at Stanford University have the following recommendations for the prevention of Carpel Tunnel Syndrome: take 10 to 15 minute breaks from your activities every hour, work in an environment where your working tools are ergonomic, and exercise your hands with a stress ball at the end of your work day.