Table of contents:
- Tips for preventing carpal tunnel syndrome
- 1. While working, take time to rest
- 2. Improve sleeping position
- 3. Maintain your posture and hands while working
- 4. Do wrist stretching exercises
Writers, cashiers, and other jobs that rely on hand ability, are at risk of experiencing hand pain as a result carpal tunnel syndrome aka CTS. So, if I always rely on my hands for work everyday? Come on, see tips to prevent carpal tunnel syndrome the following.
Tips for preventing carpal tunnel syndrome
Doing repetitive hand movements, such as typing, cutting, etc. can cause nerve problems in the hand.
The median nerve that runs through the wrist structure forms a tunnel (carpal tunnel), experiencing excessive stress.
As a result, the thumb, middle finger, index finger, palm area, or wrist may cause a prickling, numbness, or tingling sensation.
All of these symptoms can spread to the upper arm and interfere with your daily activities. To prevent it from happening carpal tunnel syndrome , You can follow the following tips.
1. While working, take time to rest
Preventing the condition CTS means preventing excessive pressure on the nerves. When you bend or rotate your hand for a long time, don't forget to take a short break.
This gives your muscles and nerves a break from the stress.
If possible, alternate between hand movements. Don't just rely on your right or left hand.
2. Improve sleeping position
Although the problem lies with the hands and wrists, sleeping position can also affect the risk carpal tunnel syndome .
Sleeping on your stomach with your head resting on your hands puts a lot of weight and pressure on your wrists. Sleeping habits like this can cause carpal tunnel syndrome .
Just like prone, the same applies to sleeping with your hands behind your head. To prevent CTS, you should sleep less at night in this position.
If you unconsciously do this position while sleeping and feel tingling in your hands, immediately change your sleeping position. It is recommended that you sleep on your back with your hands at your sides.
3. Maintain your posture and hands while working
If you spend most of your time sitting in front of a computer screen, it's important to maintain your sitting posture.
Apart from preventing bad posture, this can also be a way to prevent it carpal tunnel syndrome .
The trick, keep your shoulders straight when sitting, standing, walking. A slouched posture tends to stretch your hands and arms further forward. This can increase the risk of CTS.
Then, put it down keyboard in the right position. That is, do not make your fingers too wide or bent when typing.
Also, don't let your wrists float in the air while typing.
Another small activity that can affect your arms and wrists is when you hold objects.
Make sure to hold the phone in front of the body with a distance neither too close nor too far.
Avoid holding the pen too tightly, as this can strain the muscles and nerves more quickly. If you are holding or lifting something heavy, it's best to do it with both hands.
4. Do wrist stretching exercises
In between work breaks, you can do wrist stretching exercises.
The goal is to relax the muscles and nerves in the wrist and at the same time prevent it from happening carpal tunnel syndrome .
There are several finger and wrist stretching movements, including:
- Movement squeezing fingers for 15 seconds.
- Inward and outward circular motions of the wrist, for 15 seconds each.
- Extend your arms and face the wall. Then, bend the backs of your hands down so that you can see the inner knuckles of your hands. Place your hand on the wall and hold it for 5 seconds.
- Continue straightening your hands and opening your palms. Place your inner palms against the wall and hold for 5 seconds.
Well, hopefully after doing the four tips above, you can prevent pain in the hands as a result carpal tunnel syndrome .