| A common factor in developing carpal tunnel | | | | and carpal tunnel complaints. |
| symptoms is increased hand use or activity. | | | | Hyperthyroidism, osteoarthritis and diabetes were |
| While repetitive activities are often blamed, the | | | | most often associated with Carpal Tunnel |
| correlation is often unclear. Physiology and family | | | | symptoms, as were variables such as age, |
| history may have a significant role in individual's | | | | obesity and wrist dimension. In a studies by SG |
| susceptibility. | | | | Atcheson, only 35 of 297 subjects were aware |
| Many cases of carpal tunnel syndrome are | | | | of the underlying health condition which could |
| provoked by repetitive grasping and manipulating | | | | account for their symptoms. Hence, these causes |
| activities. The exposure can be cumulative. | | | | would be missed by doctors if they were relying |
| Activities may be work-related or related to other | | | | on a patient's health history to rule out other |
| activities (i.e. home improvement chores.) | | | | causative factors. It is important that a doctor |
| Symptoms are commonly exacerbated by | | | | rule out other causes as well. If a patient does |
| forceful and repetitive use of the hand and wrists | | | | not have Carpal Tunnel, corrective surgery is |
| in industrial occupations, including jack hammer | | | | destined to fail. |
| operators, meat packers, computer users and | | | | It's not all in your head. Studies have also related |
| musicians. The condition has been documented for | | | | this syndrome and other upper extremity |
| decades, but in recent 10 to 20 years has | | | | complaints with psychological and social factors. A |
| become more prevalent, probably due to better | | | | large amount of psychological distress showed |
| public awareness and earlier diagnosis. | | | | doubled risk of the report pain, while job |
| There are a number of causes of carpal tunnel | | | | demands, poor support from colleagues, and work |
| syndrome. They can be either traumatic, or | | | | dissatisfaction also showed an increase in the |
| non-traumatic. | | | | report of pain, even after short term exposure. |
| Work related exposure is a common contributor. | | | | On the other hand, in 1997, studies done by the |
| In the U.S., for instance, carpal tunnel syndrome is | | | | National Institute for Occupational Safety and |
| the biggest single contributing factor to lost time | | | | Health (NIOSH), indicated that job tasks involving |
| at work. This syndrome results in billions of dollars | | | | highly repetitive manual acts or necessitating wrist |
| of workers compensation claims every year. | | | | bending or other stressful wrist postures were |
| However, recent studies and peer review articles | | | | connected. However, it appears that the 30+ |
| have found no relationship between carpal tunnel | | | | studies reviewed were concerned with the |
| syndrome and office-type work. Specifically, | | | | occupations of assembly line workers, meat |
| research studies have found no statistically | | | | packers, food processors, and the like, not |
| significant association between Carpal Tunnel and | | | | general office work. |
| keyboard use. The jury is still out on what, if any, | | | | The medical and scientific studies are consistent in |
| relationship may exist between this condition and | | | | finding no statistically significant relationship |
| light office work or computer use. | | | | between upper extremity repetitive trauma |
| Recently the Harvard Medical School published a | | | | claims and the workplace. |
| report in which it addressed carpal tunnel | | | | In summary, the underlying cause of carpal tunnel |
| syndrome. The Harvard report cited to the 2003 | | | | syndrome is still in question . People that develop |
| Journal of American Medical Association study and | | | | symptoms will frequently blame this on their work |
| the 2001 study in Neurology that computer use | | | | exposure, even though this exposure may indeed |
| did not increase a person's risk of development. | | | | have little to do with the root cause of this |
| Several studies have indicated a strong correlation | | | | syndrome. |
| between an employees general physical condition | | | | |