Computers don’t cause carpal tunnel syndrome - people do
A study presented at the recent annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons suggests that the relationship between carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and repetitive hand motion is weaker than previously thought.
CTS symptoms include hand numbness, weakness and atrophy of thumb muscles. The cause of physical factors that cause increased pressure on the carpal tunnel are still relatively unknown though the study suggests that biological/genetic factors are about two to three times more likely than repetitive hand use.
“The idea that CTS is related specifically to typing or overuse of the hands in general is pervasive in modern society,“ said David Ring, MD, senior author of the study and assistant professor of orthopaedic surgery and a hand and upper extremity surgeon at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. “It is commonly accepted as true, but according to the scientific evidence, the link between hand use and carpal tunnel syndrome is overstated and may be inaccurate. In contrast, there is strong evidence for an inherent, genetic risk for CTS. CTS sufferers are most likely innocent bystanders and should not be blamed for their illness.“
“Another common misconception,“ said Ring, “is that patients with carpal tunnel syndrome present with complaints of activity-related wrist pain. In fact, the hallmark of CTS is numbness that wakes you at night or is present when you wake in the morning. The numbness can be so intense that it’s painful, but pain without numbness is not characteristic of CTS.“
So keep on sending those emails, text messages and surfing for pr0n.
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“Computers don’t cause carpal tunnel syndrome - people do”
on March 15, 2007 at 07:59 PM - LINKcompanys that DONT give there employees proper training at keyboards and DONT supply wrist pads next to key boards are to blame.
sue the lot of them!!!!!
I would like to recieve the work of Dr.David Ring, about CTS.
on July 20, 2007 at 03:43 PM - LINKDr. Victor Sá Teixeira