Simple Pain Relief Tip for Hand & Wrist Pain–Computer Users

I was watching a woman work.  Is this woman at risk of having hand and wrist pain?  Or a carpal tunnel syndrome diagnosis in her future?  She is if she continues doing this…

I watched her filling in blanks on her computer screen.  Her seat was far enough away from the keyboard that her arm was almost totally straight.  She did not pull her chair closer to the keyboard.  She did have a “wrist rest” in front of the keyboard.

Why will this end up causing carpal tunnel area pain for her?

This position strains arm muscles.  It doesn’t use your arm muscles in their most neutral position.  That means they are going to complain!

You can tell when a muscle complains because it gives you pain or other uncomfortable sensations.  That’s how muscles talk!  They get strained or stretched or aggravated and they yell.

What’s the solution?

Pull your chair closer to your keyboard.  If your keyboard is too high and makes you lift your shoulders to type, try placing it on your lap (this works for me with the length of my arms) or put something like a TV table in front of you to put the keyboard on.

Ideally, your elbows will be close to your waist.  Your elbows will be directly below your shoulders.  Your shoulders will feel relaxed rather than hiked up.

Your wrists are straight and your lower arms are approximately in line with the floor (horizontal.)

This means your elbows will be at a right or 90 degree angle or slightly more open.  Your wrists do not tilt up or down.

You sit up pretty straight (add a pad behind your waist if you need to.)  You can lift your breastbone (pretend there is a hook and your breastbone is being pulled to the sky.)  Feet flat on the floor.

Whew!

That’s an awful lot of directions!  Yes but when you get in the habit of sitting correctly you will avoid or get rid of  hand and wrist or “carpal tunnel” pain. 🙂