If you use a computer a lot, you might get wrist pain. In fact, anybody who use their hands a lot,
including massage therapists, are susceptible to carpal tunnel syndrome and
tendinitis. Here are a few tips to prevent them.
Stretching
The muscles in the inner forearms are constantly flexed to
move the fingers. There are a number
of stretching exercises. The easiest one you can do while seated is to use the other hand, and push forward so that the angle of the
wrist gets smaller. If you have pain or inflammation, don’t do these exercises.
If you would like deeper and more precise stretching, stand
up and put your palm on the desk with the fingers pointing forward. Pull your thumb and each finger towards
you. This is my favorite. Here is the video (1:52) showing step
by step.
Strengthening
The muscle in the outer forearms should be strengthened. Hold your hand with the other hand, and try to push forward while the other hand resists.
Resting Hands Sideways
It is important to have your wrists rest on the desk to support
the weight of your forearms. If
you have even a moment to rest your hands while typing, turn your pinky sides down and rest the sides of your hands (a thumb’s
up position) on the desk, instead of the hands hovering over the
keyboard. Even this small change
might help you in a long run.
