Typing or keyboarding in a “bad” position can cause carpal tunnel pain! Here’s an example:
I watched a woman working on her computer. Her chair was so far away from the keyboard that her arm was stretched almost totally straight. She did not pull her chair closer to 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! When they get strained or stretched or aggravated, they yell.
We always think that we can do something “just for a minute.” The problem is…we never do it for “just a minute.” We do it over and over and over again for LOTS of minutes. Muscles hate it when we do that!
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. Or place it on a keyboard tray or lap tray.
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.
This is 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. 🙂 And you deserve to feel better but the only person who can help you is…YOU!