| If you've never experienced it, consider | | | | on the market now, but the Basic Keyboard |
| yourself lucky. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome-a | | | | Tray was the top of the line for under $100, |
| painful condition caused by swelling of the | | | | and it installs to pretty much any existing |
| tendons in the wrists-is no joke. Hundreds of | | | | desk you have. |
| thousands of people suffer from the | | | | |
| affliction on a daily basis; many have had to | | | | Keep your hands warm. If you work in a cold |
| quit their jobs or abandon favorite | | | | environment, either outside or a building |
| activities, and the worst part is... chances | | | | where you can't control the temperature (like |
| are, it could have been avoided. | | | | a warehouse), wear fingerless gloves that |
| | | | keep the muscles in your wrists from cooling |
| CTS is caused by repetitive, unnatural | | | | down and tightening. |
| movements such as typing for extended periods | | | | |
| of time or manipulating machines that | | | | Alternate tasks to avoid overuse. Sure, |
| vibrate. Those that have experienced the | | | | logically it makes sense to enter all the |
| onset of CTS firsthand often complain of | | | | orders on the computer at once and then move |
| intense pain, swelling, limited hand | | | | on to filing, finishing that in one fell |
| functions, loss of strength, even loss of | | | | swoop too. Don't compromise the health of |
| feeling. | | | | your body for efficiency. After all, how |
| | | | efficient will you be when you type more |
| There are some basic steps you can take to | | | | slowly due to wrist pain, or need to use both |
| prevent-or at least reduce-your risk of | | | | hands to pull heavy files? Take breaks and |
| Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: | | | | alternate tasks, giving your muscles time to |
| | | | relax and readapt. |
| Spend the time and money on outfitting your | | | | |
| desk properly. Many of us who feel we don't | | | | Reduce your force. Instead of pounding on |
| spend "that much" time on our home computers | | | | your keyboard like you're Mozart banging out |
| know that we're sitting in an uncomfortable, | | | | a concerto, touch your keyboard lightly. Hold |
| unnatural position, but decide to just suffer | | | | pens and levers with a relaxed grip. Use a |
| through it. Bad idea. Even short amounts of | | | | sawing motion to cut rather than pressing |
| time spent working in unnatural positions | | | | down with your wrist. Paying attention to |
| over the course of weeks can be harmful. | | | | unnatural pressure on your hands and wrists |
| Install an ergonomically correct keyboard | | | | is key to realizing when you're putting |
| tray on your computer desk. Our favorite is | | | | yourself at risk. Treat your wrists well, and |
| the Basic Keyboard Tray from Versa Products, | | | | they'll do the same for you. |
| Inc. There are numerous great keyboard trays | | | | |