Wrist and hand pain can be caused by holding your hands and arms in stressful positions when you work. If you tend to flex your wrists up or down while you are working or playing, it can cause pain in your hand or in your carpal tunnel area. If so, you might feel that wearing a brace is the answer.
Maybe it is.
A wrist brace will help you hold your wrist in a straighter or more “neutral” position when you work or when you sleep. You cannot wear it all of the time. Braces are to be worn only during day or night, whichever time causes you the most wrist and hand pain.
Or, perhaps, another solution would be to “re-work” yourself and “re-build” your working area. Reposition your equipment, table, desk, chair or footrest so
you don’t have to work with your wrists curled, tilted or bent.
Lots of times we do things in a certain way regardless of what our body would prefer. You might be doing things that cause pain without even realizing that you are.
We humans sometimes do things like that. We are so busy thinking, typing, working, or whatever–we get so involved–that we don’t pay attention to our body until it starts to scream at us.
Including, of course, your carpal tunnel. Or pain in your hand and wrist. Your body can “scream” pretty loud.
So, what’s another solution besides a wrist brace?
Using good ergonomics will let you work comfortably with all of your body parts in the correct, most neutral positions to work without pain at your desk, table or computer.
What are good ergonomics?
Feet flat on floor, knees 90 degrees or slightly more open. Hips 90 degrees. Spine supported in neutral curves. Use a back support or NadaChair yoga belt to maintain the natural curve behind your waist. This will help you keep your head over your body rather than out in front.
Shoulders over hip joint. Elbows close as possible to your waist. Straight wrists that easily reach the mouse or keyboard. Hands positioned close to your midline rather than off to the sides.
Stretching to reach the keyboard or mouse strains muscles in your arms and back and causes muscle strain and pain.
Getting rid of the cause of the pain in your wrist is much better than just treating symptoms. Learning how to position yourself correctly while you work will help you get rid of your wrist pain.
But since we cannot control our sleeping positions totally, if you curl your wrists while you sleep and wake with pain you may need a wrist brace to help you break the habit. Wear the wrist brace comfortably so it doesn’t squeeze your wrist. The goal is to prevent large movement but to still allow good circulation.