Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) and Tendonitis for computer users are real repetitive strain injury (RSI) hazards. Computer users are particularly susceptible to these conditions which can become chronic and affect your ability to work and play normally. Smart phones are potential hazards too aggravating the same tendons. It makes sense to act quickly to address the risks.
Our Computer Posture RSI Summary for Employers page may also be helpful to read.
What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) and Tendonitis?
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a specific type of Tendonitis which is an inflammation of a tendon. Tendons connect muscles to bone. In the wrist, these tendons (together with nerves and blood vessels) are kept together through the wrist by the carpal ligament – much like a cable tie keeps cables organised!
Computer users with Carpal Tunnel or Tendonitis will have pain or other sensations in the hand, wrist, forearm when using the mouse, keyboard or your smart phone. Computer users often unconsciously hold their mouse arm or hand in a fixed tensed position for extended periods as they are reading/working at the computer which may be significant in the cause.
Generally CTS symptoms worsen over time and involve numbness, tingling, or burning sensations in the thumb and fingers, particularly the index and middle fingers. You will also find you have reduced gripping strength and pain may be felt after only a few seconds when CTS or Tendonitis is active.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Tendonitis Treatments for Computer Users
Initially resting the hand and arm is essential and then follow with a combination of rest and active physiotherapy to help relax and repair your tendons.
Cutting the carpal ligament is more frowned upon these days but has been a help to some.
Your computer use environment will no doubt need fixing to minimise further damage and pain. Read our information on general postural advice and appropriate products for computer posture RSI in general
Get yourself an ergonomic vertical mouse and keyboard!
- Right-handed people will find most desktop keyboards have number and function pads to the right of the standard keys which forces their elbow further away from their side. As a result, your neck, shoulder, arm, elbow and wrist are likely to be supporting a hovering arm causing all those tendons and muscles to be tensed, fatigue and damage causing pain.
Compact or mini-keyboards don’t have these extra keypads and so make it possible to use a vertical mouse with your arm at rest and elbow touching your side; far more natural and relaxed.
- A conventional mouse twists the arm a quarter turn from its natural resting position and you have to grip your mouse to move it. Holding your mouse arm in this posture for any length of time causes your muscles and tendons to be tensed, fatigue, damage and cause pain.
A vertical mouse has your forearm resting on the desk in a much more relaxed and natural posture without the same need to grip when moving it.
- If you use a smart phone or gaming consoles, these are almost certainly significant factors in your condition. You need to reduce the button-pressing and other finger actions to a minimum so perhaps consider using your smart phone just for phone calls for a while.
For more details refer to the ergonomic vertical mouse and compact keyboard page, together with a good video explanation and how to use them.
What to look for in Ergonomic mice and keyboards