Carpal Tunnel Not Caused By Computer Usage

from the though-it-may-still-cause-pain dept

For years, it's been drilled into all of us that sitting at a computer all day (especially with bad ergonomics) increases your risk of carpal tunnel syndrome. Now, instead, we're being told that a new study shows heavy computer use has nothing to do with carpal tunnel. However, it's not all good news. In fact, it's not good news at all. Heavy computer usage can cause repetitive stress injuries... they're just not called carpal tunnel. In other words, the pain is still real. It just changed names.
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  • identicon
    Stephen Tillman, 14 Dec 2005 @ 11:57am

    No Subject Given

    Shall we chalk this one up next to the swing back and forth that eggs and milk have enjoyed? One month, they are good for you; the next month, they are bad. YAY!

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      MadCow, 14 Dec 2005 @ 1:11pm

      Re: No Subject Given

      Milk is for babies of the same species. I will never understand why adults drink cow's milk. That just seems really, really retarded, especially when they get all this lactaid crap to help them digest something they shouldn't be drinking in the first place.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        ehrichweiss, 14 Dec 2005 @ 3:00pm

        Re: No Subject Given

        If we should be drinking human milk then shouldn't we also eat human eggs?!?!?

        People who need lactaid, etc. would need it for human milk too because after a certain age they lost the enzyme that digests lactose which is also present in human milk. I however am all for women baring their breasts for some milking..heh.

        We drink cow's milk because it tastes good and has some degree of nutrition for most of us. We eat beef, pork and chicken(and their eggs) because they taste good. Nothing wrong with that any more than it is to look at a piece of art and enjoy it. BFD.

        Jim Fixx promoted running and healthy living and promptly died at an early-ish age while running. We might ought to be eating more salads and finding a way to get less fat in our diets but considering that starvation is all over the world, bitching about what other people eat or drink is just retarded. Rats might be bad for you but if it's the best thing you got...

        To (badly) quote Chris Rock "Some people say red meat will kill ya....red meat will kill ya. Shit, GREEN MEAT will kill ya. If you're fortunate enough to get your lips wrapped around a steak, eat the shit outta that m----f----r"

        link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          Anonymous Coward, 14 Dec 2005 @ 3:31pm

          Re: No Subject Given

          what the heck is up with all the "milk" comments? i agree that they are spam, but they are not even useful spam.

          link to this | view in chronology ]

          • identicon
            sharp, 16 Dec 2005 @ 6:22am

            Re: No Subject Given

            i dunno, i suppose someone plans on taking over the world without the help of cow milk...

            link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Topher3105, 14 Dec 2005 @ 12:22pm

    Carpal Tunnel overrated

    I develop software for a living and have never suffered the problems of carpal tunnel, or any repetitive stress injury.
    People that experience this seriously need to consider how they use a keyboard and figure out a way to use it better.
    Frequently, people pound on the keys when a light touch is all that is necessary. Some older keyboards require more force, so invest $20 in getting a new one with feather touch keys. Also, some people tense up and feel they need to type at 80 - 100 wps bursts, if you relax and type at a slower and consistent rate, your output will actually improve especially if you frequently take your hands off the keyboard to run strained tendons. Taking a break every 30 - 60 minutes will also do wonders.
    Investing in a good keyboard is always most beneficial. If your company is too cheap to get that expensive $80 Microsoft Natural Keyboard, buy your own and bring it to work. This is what you do for a living, no company can tell you you can't be comfortable and safe at work. I have been using the Natural Keyboard for over 6 years and can safely say its the number one reason I don't experience wrist pain. You wouldn't build a house using a shoe to hammer in nails, so why should you use inferior computer components to get the job done, especially if they will cause you pain in the end.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      s, 14 Dec 2005 @ 2:54pm

      Re: Carpal Tunnel overrated

      I have been using a split keyboard for years now and I did exactly what Topher suggested. I brought mine from home.

      I do type very fast and I am a software engineer. Once in maybe 3 or 4 months I get aches in my fingers or my wrist bone so...I take a break and relax.

      This sounds a little silly , but sometimes I play with silly putty to give my fingers a little circulation and a stretch. Usually after a day or two, things are much better!

      We would all do better to listen when our bodies tell us something isn't working for it. Then make the appropriate change.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 14 Dec 2005 @ 1:46pm

    No Subject Given

    Heck, as an employee of "Super-cuts", you are required to switch the way scissors are held every 4 weeks so you don't inflict carpal tunnel syndrome on your wrists. And to think, they don't even use computers.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    jacob lofthus, 29 Mar 2007 @ 11:22am

    stupid teacher

    Ya my stupid teacher says that using the computer causes y to get carpol tunnel and i disagree with her and she thinks that im wrong and am trying to proove ya and now she

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    jacob lofthus, 29 Mar 2007 @ 11:29am

    im back

    ya sry she was yelling at me because i was off task and she knows im right so ya thanks for listening to me

    link to this | view in chronology ]


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