| When you continually stretch and pull the muscles | | | | The risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome is |
| and nerves in the wrist and hand through | | | | not confined to people in a single industry or job, |
| excessive repeated motions at work or home, | | | | but is common among those who work on |
| carpal tunnel syndrome may occur causing pain, | | | | assembly lines doing manufacturing, sewing, |
| numbness and weakness in the hands, fingers and | | | | finishing, cleaning, and meat, poultry, or fish |
| wrists. This painful affliction is caused when the | | | | packaging jobs. |
| median nerve, which runs from the forearm into | | | | While there are a number of ways to treat carpal |
| the hand, becomes pressed or squeezed at the | | | | tunnel syndrome including exercise, medications |
| wrist. This nerve controls sensations to the palm | | | | and surgery, most doctors stress the importance |
| side of the thumb and fingers (although not the | | | | of preventing it in the first place by replacing |
| little finger), as well as impulses to some small | | | | traditional office equipment and furniture with |
| muscles in the hand that allow the fingers and | | | | better, more agronomical styles and learning to |
| thumb to move. | | | | perform specific stretching exercises; taking |
| Symptoms usually begin gradually, with frequent | | | | frequent rest breaks; wearing splints to keep |
| burning, tingling, or itching numbness in the palm | | | | wrists straight, and using correct posture and |
| and the fingers at night. The thumb, middle and | | | | wrist positioning. |
| index fingers are most commonly afflicted. As | | | | Trying something as simple as wearing fingerless |
| symptoms worsen, people might feel tingling | | | | gloves can help keep hands warm and flexible |
| during the day and a experience a decreased grip | | | | while redesigning workstations can enable a |
| strength. In chronic and/or untreated cases, the | | | | worker's wrist to maintain a more natural position |
| muscles at the base of the thumb may waste | | | | during work and help alleviate the stress on |
| away. Some people even lose their ability to | | | | muscles and joints that can cause injury in the |
| distinguish between hot and cold through touch. | | | | first place. |
| Carpal tunnel is most commonly caused by | | | | Developing programs in ergonomics, the process |
| trauma or injury to the wrist that may cause | | | | of adapting workplace conditions and job demands |
| swelling, such as sprain or fracture; work stress; | | | | to the capabilities of workers can all help to |
| repeated use of vibrating hand tools; fluid | | | | prevent carpal tunnel syndrome as well as a |
| retention; or the development of a cyst or tumor | | | | variety of other physical ailments. |
| in the carpal canal. | | | | |