Carpal tunnel syndrome-that pressure on a key nerve in the wrist that can lead to numbness, tingling and pain-can be caused by many repetitive motions, and often, in offices, it's the hours using a keyboard and mouse that are blamed.
Well, stop blaming your desktop. Dr. Aaron Bard, a chiropractor in Peterborough, says people have the wrong target. And don't just take his word for it. The Mayo Clinic and the National Institutes of Health both say workplace activities are not the usual cause. Bard says the more common cause of carpal tunnel syndrome is the position people sleep in.
Most people, Bard says, aren't even aware of how their sleep posture creates problems. But those who curl up in a fetal position with hands and wrists turned inward toward the chest, he says, are creating pressure on the median nerve, which runs from wrist to forearm.
Bard suggests that those suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome pay attention to their sleep position. If they are in fact curling hands inward, he recommends flattening the palms in a prayer position and placing them under a pillow. If that doesn't work or if the pain has become too severe, Bard encourages clients to wear a brace while they sleep to keep the aggravated wrist in a neutral position.
Current Issue - May 2024