The tingling is caused by a pinched nerve, known as the median nerve, that passes throw a narrow ‘carpal tunnel’ on the way to the hand. When anything compresses this nerve, it causes carpal tunnel.
Carpal tunnel symptoms develop gradually and could worsen over time if you don’t take any preventive action. People over the age of 30, those using repetitive motions of hands and wrist at work or whose hands are frequently exposed to vibration or cold temperatures are at a major risk of getting carpal tunnel.
5 Tips to Prevent Carpal Tunnel
Keep the Hands Warm
Cold makes the wrist pain and stiffness worse. Therefore, it is critical to protect your hands and wrists from the cold. Keep them warm by wearing adhesive heating pads or hear warmers for your hands. Wrist splints and copper compression gloves are also great options to consider as they help with circulation of blood in the hands, keeping them warm.
Take Regular Breaks
If you have a job that requires you to spend a majority of the time on computers, you need to rest the hands and wrists from time to time. Take a break every 2-3 hours; stretch and bend them forwards and backwards. You can even consider switching hands or even your position if you are performing repetitive tasks.
Even a 2-3 minute break every 2-3 hours would prevent numbness in fingers and minimize the risk of carpal tunnel.
Do Hand and Wrist Exercises
Exercising your hands and wrists greatly reduces the risk of developing carpal tunnel. Stretching and exercising helps in strengthening the muscles present in the hands and wrist. Even including 5 minutes of wrist exercises could make a great difference. Ideally, do the exercises before you start work or during the breaks.
Control the Wrist Movement
Be aware of the position of your hands and wrist when you perform repetitive actions all day. When you hold something, reduce the force and relax the grip on the object as most people tend to use more force than required to perform certain tasks. Additionally, ensure you spread the motion and pressure evenly through the hand and wrist. Try to keep the wrist straight or slightly bent while you work. If necessary, train yourself to engage in different positions that won’t stress your hand or wrist.
Keep the Posture In Check
This tip is especially important for people who work on computers the whole day. Poor posture will cause the shoulders to roll forward which further causes the neck and shoulder muscles to become shortened. This results in the nerves in the neck getting compressed, thus affecting your wrists, fingers, and hands. Ensure you maintain the right posture when you work.
The above mentioned tips will help you prevent carpal tunnel, however, visit a doctor for carpal tunnel treatment in case the pain gets worse or unmanageable.
Author Bio: Kunal is a young and passionate entrepreneur, fascinated by the workings of the human body and natural solutions for common health problems. He’s single-minded in his aim to make Copper Clothing a brand that’s recognised across the globe, by partnering with global brands to make these high-tech materials easily accessible for everyone.
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