Manual labor is extremely hard on the body. Jobs that require repetitive motion can wear down your joints over a period of time. One of the most common results from overuse is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
Carpal tunnel causes stiffness, pain and numbness in the hand and fingers, and it affects millions of Americans every year.
When your hands and wrists repeat the same day after day, it can cause your tendons to swell and apply pressure on the foremost nerve of the hand.
If you are in an industry that puts you in danger of developing carpal tunnel syndrome, there are some things you can do to prevent it.
Position Your Hands Properly
Practice keeping your forearm and hand straight. This alignment places less force on the tendons and nerves in your hands. It may not feel natural at first, but as time goes on, your body will adjust to the new normal.
When operating with hand tools, make sure that you are able to grasp the tool securely in order to keep your wrists and hands in the proper alignment. If the tool is too wide or too large for you, it will have a negative effect on your hand positioning.
Perform Hand Exercises
This is something that should be done daily –– not once in a while or only on the days when you’re experiencing pain –– daily. If you’re serious about preventing carpal tunnel, work these hand exercises into your regular daily routine.
- For the Wrist – Curl your fingers into fist formation and rotate your hand clockwise. Do this 10-15 times and then do the same motion counter-clockwise. Release your fist and repeat the exercise when your fingers extended.
- For the Hands – Make a fist and release, extending your fingers as wide as they’ll go. Hold for 10 seconds, relax and repeat 5-10 times.
While completing these exercises takes less than 2 minutes, it can have a profound impact on your life.
These exercises can be done in your car, in the morning when you wake up, before you clock in, on your lunch break, etc. It’s not a matter of not having time to complete them, but remembering to complete them.
Set a reminder each day to complete your hand and wrist exercises. You’ll thank yourself later!