Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - Comments Page 2

A GREAT, configurable, freeware program to remind you to take breaks is Workrave. It will also guide you through some exercises. Check it out at http://www.workrave.org -- I have really been talking this one up!

My physio looked at my work station and said "No wonder". I had the mouse on the edge of the desk and my forearm completely unsupported. He changed it by pushing everything back on the desk so that I have my whole forearm resting on the desk when using the mouse. He explained that doing this makes you use your big shoulder muscles for the mouse, not the wrist. I was in agony until I tried it (3 years ago), but I haven't had any pain since.

I came to the Carpal Tunnel Syndrome article by way of a keyword search on this site. (I've been with the Tourbus e-mail list a few years now.) My particular interest trigger here was Bob's mention of laptop computing as 'green computing', coupled with someone else's observation that his experience of wrist problems was exacerbated by use of a laptop.

My own touch-typing training was in 1980, and the Windows adjustable keyboard has helped lessen my experience of wrist injury rather than increase it. (I used to tense my wrists too much on the manual office typewriter, and yet experienced electric typewriter keyboards as almost totally uncontrollable. No such problems with Windows adjustable keyboards.)

Maybe an important reason for my not having wrist problems with conventional desktop keyboard or mouse is that -- like the 9 April correspondent -- I have my elbows lower than my wrists?

I am a Chiropractor and treat loads of patients with carpal tunnel in Scranton, Pa. That article has some basic info on carpal tunnel and why you might want to consider Chiropractic, however not all Chiropractors specialize in CTS. Also, try a few exercises, stretch your arm out, palm down, grab the knuckles of the outstretched hand with the other hand and pull them down, stretching the forearms muscles gently. Then do the opposite, pull the fingers back. Sometimes CTS is directly related to tight forearm muscles! Give it a try.