| Everyone! The
individuals who are most at risk for developing carpal
tunnel syndrome or repetitive strain Injuries,
are people who perform jobs that require repetitive
or static flexion (no-movement) of the fingers
and wrist. Sustained activities that require unidirectional
(one-way) movement patterns like repetitive or
static flexion, along with having the wrist positioned
at extreme angles, the use of vibration tools and
machinery, and/or being in extreme temperatures,
will increase the likely hood of developing a repetitive
strain injury like carpal tunnel syndrome.
One of the most significant reasons
that there is such an increase in the number of
people who are being afflicted with carpal tunnel
syndrome and repetitive strain injuries is the
continuous rise in the use of computers. The number
of computer users has increased from 5-million
to 50-million in just the past 10-years, and the
young age at which children begin using them
has created an even larger epidemic of carpal tunnel
syndrome and repetitive strain injuries. The increased
use of video
games, blackberries and text messaging
by youth has caused injury levels to rise even
further, reaching pandemic
proportions in 2007
with new disorders like texter's thumb, blackberry
thumb, trigger thumb and more.
Studies
have shown that using the same repetitive
motion thousands of times daily, year-after-year,
causes serious problems for millions of
people who perform continued activities
that involve the already overused, stronger
and tighter flexor muscles of the hand
and forearm.
To
make this concept even more clear, here
is an example. If
an individual typed 60 words per minute
and worked a six-hour day, they would type
around 18,000 key-strokes per hour. Each
of these keystrokes takes about 8-ounces
of pressure, and at the end of the 6-hours,
would have pressed about 54,000 lbs. (pounds)
with their wrists and fingers. This would
be an equivalent to 27-tons of pressure
being applied directly to the wrist and
finger flexor muscles throughout the day.
It is quite easy to see how unidirectional
movement patterns cause muscle a imbalance to exist,
which then results in a joint imbalance and ends
in impingement of the underlying median nerve.
Individuals at risk for developing these types
of muscle imbalances must perform appropriate balancing
exercises to ensure that carpal tunnel syndrome
does not present itself. These exercises can not
only prevent carpal tunnel syndrome, but also rehabilitate
those already suffering from its devastating
effects.
List of Occupations Most
at Risk for Developing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Here is a list of jobs where
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Repetitive Strain
Injuries are most prevalent, although they affect
every industry where there is repetitive movements
or static, non-moving flexion of the fingers
and wrist is involved. ( i.e. Occupations that
require gripping or repetitious movements with
combined frequency, duration, force and cold
temperatures.)
- Computer operators
- Meat cutters
- Assembly line workers
- Chefs
- Dentists
- Secretaries
- Tennis players
- Musicians
- Construction Workers
- Medical Professionals
- Cyclists
- Housewives
- Grocery Clerks
- Truck Drivers
- Police Officers
- Electricians
- Teachers
Stop Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Before it Stops You!
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