Here’s how to prevent carpal tunnel syndrome or lessen your pain: Change the way you move.
This article isn’t for people who work on keyboards. There are other articles here for that.
It’s for all of you who don’t have desk jobs but who do have hand and wrist, arm and shoulder pain and who have a sneaking suspicion it’s caused by your work.
How can you change the way you move?
Here’s an example:
I was watching two men loading conveyor belts with luggage at an airport. One of the men was quite fascinating to watch. It was almost as though he was dancing with the suitcases and bags. He would catch a bag at just the right place on the conveyor belt and sort of guide it to the trailer they were loading. It was almost like watching
a great golfer or ballet dancer. He made it look easy, effortless and fun.
The other worker was picking the bags UP from the belt instead of catching them at just the right height. Then he used effort to heft them to the trailer. He made it look like work.
Here’s another example:
If you work as a cashier or in a factory, do you use any unnecessary movements? Do you twist or tilt or jerk or hike or lift when you really don’t have to? When it doesn‘t hurt, we sometimes get into “bad” habits that, after a while, start to “bite” us.
Try to think like a ballerina (even you big guys.) When you are not working, take a few minutes to think about how you move, what hurts when you move, and how you might be able to change.
After working in your “new improved” movement style for a few days, it will become a habit for you–a very good habit.
Sometimes we do things that hurt us without even thinking about what we do.
Your job is to make your movements as efficient and smooth as possible to help prevent and reduce your carpal tunnel pain. You’re welcome to contact me for suggestions. Just leave a comment below.