Tag Archives: carpal tunnel

General Safety Issues, Hand Protection

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME (GUEST POST)

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Written by Christine Miller

Navigating the Carpal Tunnel


Carpal tunnel syndrome is an affliction of the wrist where swelling from repetitive motion pinches the median nerve. The area where this nerve enters the hand is called the “carpal tunnel,” and it is quite narrow. Any swelling will affect the nerve, causing tingling, weakness of the hand, and numbness. If ignored, symptoms can become quite painful and even permanent, but there are simple treatments that can be performed at home, and there are ways to avoid the ailment entirely.

Causes and Prevention

Any prolonged, repetitive motion of the hand can cause carpal tunnel, and the most common is typing on a computer. Other activities include writing,working with hand tools or small machines, sports, and even driving. Factory assembly work can also be a contributor.

Certain medical conditions can cause carpal tunnel, such as arthritis, diabetes, hypothyroidism, alcoholism, and kidney issues. Obesity and pregnancy have also been known to trigger carpal tunnel.

During any prolonged task that involves the wrists, change positions when possible, take occasional breaks to stretch and massage the wrists, and use gel wrist rests when typing if the wrists are at an angle. The key with typing at length is to keep the wrist straight, so even some soft splints can help to prevent wrist pain. During any activity, use whatever ergonomic aids are available, and always stop when pain or tingling begin.

Symptoms

The median nerve is associated with the fingers on the thumb-side of the hand, so numbness or tingling in the thumb, index, or middle finger are a strong indicator of carpal tunnel. Other signs might be tingling or numbness in the palm or entire hand, pain that extends from the wrist to the elbow, a loss of dexterity when manipulating small objects, or weakness when carrying items such as suitcases.

Home Remedies

When caught early, carpal tunnel can be halted and often reversed completely. To start, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (or “NSAIDs”) such as ibuprofen can help to relieve wrist pressure.

1) Ice: the very best, completely natural treatment for carpal tunnel is ice and rest. Icing the wrist reduces inflammation, which improves circulation and promotes healing.

2) Vitamin C: this vitamin helps to repair damaged tissues; find it in fruits and vegetables or as a supplement. Another to watch for is “bromelain,” well-known to the medical field for anti-inflammatory properties, and found in pineapple, papaya, and kiwi or in supplements.

3) Epsom salts: prepare a soak of Epsom salts and water that is as hot as can be tolerated and immerse the wrist for three minutes. Next, soak the wrist in cold water for half a minute. Popular with athletes, this “hot cold” method is proven to reduce swelling and pain.

4) Massage: to reduce swelling and stimulate circulation, massage the affected wrist, hand, and forearm. Herbal oils can aid this and come in a variety of types and scents, amping the effects and soothing both body and mind.

Treatment

To prevent permanent damage, contact a physician if symptoms persist, or if there seems to be a loss of muscle in the fingers or hand. If carpal tunnel does not respond to basic treatment, a doctor may prescribe Naproxen, and he may suggest wrist splints while sleeping. For more severe cases, he might refer patients to an occupational therapist or prescribe corticosteroid injections. The worst cases generally require surgery, but the outcome depends on severity and the length of time the nerve has been affected. Carpal tunnel surgery is nearly always successful, but recovery can take several months.

This article has been written by Christine Miller. Christine has written various topics about health, wellness, home and lifestyle.   She wrote this exclusively for Blog4Safety.

 

 

 

 


Back Safety, Ergonomics, Fall Safety, General Safety Issues

Six Common Workplace Injuries That Can Be Prevented (Guest Post)

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Written by Jay Acker

Injuries that occur at work can be detrimental to a company’s bottom line. The problem is not just in the cost of litigation and increased insurance premiums from workers’ compensation claims, but also in the loss of motivation and productivity that can occur across an office when employees perceive neglect in their employer.

It’s far better to be proactive and avoid workplace injuries before they occur. Whether your company is solely office-based or utilizes a warehouse and a fleet of vehicles, there are universal accidents that can affect any type of business. To stop and prevent injuries before they have a chance to harm employees and derail a company, make yourself of aware of the most common workplace hazards and how to remedy them.

Repetitive Motion Disorders

Although tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome and bursitis (swollen elbow) are not the most dramatic of workplace injuries, they are among those with the most long-term impact. Because these disorders develop over long periods of time, they’re also more difficult to reverse the effects of. And because of the growing number of sedentary office workers, they’re becoming more and more common. Use company alerts, emails and posters to remind employees to stretch and take breaks throughout the day. Ergonomic desks and chairs to support the lower back are integral, and you may even consider letting employees switch to stand-up desks if they express interest.

Slips and Falls

Although the possibility of a fall on scaffolding or construction sites is obvious, few office managers realize the real danger of stretching power cords and cables across an office. Make a rule against extending cables through areas that receive walking traffic. Likewise, ensure that stairwells and hallways are well-lit. And if an area of your workplace is ever mopped (even the bathroom), don’t forget the prudent legal benefit of a ‘wet floor’ sign.

Vehicle Accidents

Even if you trust a particular employee, think twice before handing them the keys to your personal or company vehicle to run a quick errand for you. Any worker that drives on company business should undergo a driving record background check. Furthermore, implement a company rule against sending text messages or talking on cell phones while driving, even if your state allows it.

Overexertion

In jobs where heavy objects are often moved, workers are generally prepared, including utilizing back-supporting belts and building strength through the consistency of their work. Within office environments, however, it’s common for employees to overestimate their ability. If a refrigerator needs to be moved in the break room or the copy machine needs to go out for repairs, leave these tasks to hired professionals. Even moving reams of copy paper could lead to an injury that could come back to haunt the business. Let employees know that they’re not expected to do any heavy lifting at their job and urge them to err on the side of caution when those tasks arise.

Heavy Machinery

Because new warehouse and machinery workers often come from a similar workplace, it’s tempting to toss them the keys to the forklift and let them get started immediately. Avoid this — any employee utilizing industrial machinery needs to undergo company-specific formal training before being allowed to work. Furthermore, establish rules about long hair, jewelry, and loose fitting clothing to avoid injury around moving parts.

Workplace Violence

In any workplace, tempers can flare. The key to avoiding workplace violence is early intervention. It’s rare that a disagreement will come to blows without weeks of tension stewing before a critical moment. Make it clear to employees that they won’t be looked down on for speaking out about an issue. Have an objective mediator and plan in place to handle disputes as they arise, settling small differences before they boil over into damaging and dangerous altercations.

Whatever type of business you’re in, the potential for workplace injuries is there. By preparing yourself and instilling an emphasis on safety and well-being amongst your employees, your company will be better suited to handle small injuries that arise, avoiding most of them before anyone ever has a chance to get hurt.

Jay Acker leads a production team at www.safetyservicescompany.com that creates safety training materials. SSC offers contractor-prequalification and other contractor verification servicers.

Ergonomics, General Safety Issues, Health Issues

REPETITIVE STRESS INJURIES: KIDS AND ELECTRONICS (GUEST POST)

Today’s post features two articles sent by Paul Taylor of http://www.babysittingjobs.com
We know you will find them very interesting. pb

The emphasis on the dangers of excessive screen-time for kids has been steadily rising, as childhood obesity and related health problems have become more common. Type II diabetes, once referred to as “adult-onset diabetes,” is being diagnosed with alarming frequency in children; as kids spend less time engaged in physically active play and more time in front of televisions, computers and gaming systems, the risks increase. However, diabetes and blood pressure problems aren’t the only concern for sedentary kids; repetitive stress injuries like tendonitis and carpal tunnel syndrome are also on the rise.

Causes of Repetitive Stress Injuries (RSIs) in Kids

RSIs were similarly considered “adult” afflictions, with the vast majority of repetitive stress diagnoses in children restricted to sports-related conditions such as epicondylitis, or “tennis elbow.” Though RSIs are still most commonly diagnosed in adults, the number of kids and teens with these injuries is nonetheless rising. While overuse due to strenuous athletic practice or musical instrument rehearsal can cause repetitive stress injuries in young people, heavy video gaming, computer use and even excessive texting are also listed among the common causes. Carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis and cervical radiculopathy are all conditions that can result from repetitive stress injuries; though the percentage of kids diagnosed with these conditions is still relatively small, the fact that they are increasing among youngsters at all does indicate that proper preventative measures and good usage habits should be taught from an early age.

Proper Ergonomics is Key

The most effective method of preventing repetitive stress injuries as a result of heavy computer usage is to ensure that furniture and equipment are properly adjusted to your child’s size; desks, chairs and equipment intended for use by adults are rarely ergonomically sound for kids. In order to help their children avoid developing muscle strain and soreness, and to reduce the risk of RSIs, parents should make an effort to ensure that the top of their child’s head aligns with the top of the monitor. His back should be touching the back of his chair while he’s in a seated position. Slouching or tensing his shoulders places unnecessary and potentially harmful stress on the spine, so kids should be encouraged to practice good posture. Repetitive stress injuries of the wrists and fingers related to computer use are most commonly the result of improper keyboard placement; wrist supports can help prevent some of these injuries, as can coaching on correct typing methods. The most important preventative measure, however, is for kids to take breaks every thirty minutes to stretch and walk around.

Intermittent Breaks

Video game controllers can also cause repetitive stress injuries, especially in kids that spend several hours a day using them. Taking regular breaks and avoiding prolonged periods of uninterrupted gaming are not only a vital part of preventing repetitive stress injuries, but also encouraged to boost physical activity and prevent health conditions linked to poor exercise habits and a sedentary lifestyle. Smart phones, tablets and handheld gaming devices that encourage kids to look down for long periods of time also increase the risk of neck and back pain, in addition to the repetitive use of fingers and thumbs to control the devices. Kids’ use of all electronic devices should be carefully monitored by parents in order to ensure that breaks are being taken in a timely manner and proper posture is maintained. Armed with the necessary knowledge, parents can instill good electronics-usage habits in their kids, along with healthy eating habits and other valuable life skills. 

It might be wise, as stressed in this article, to limit the amount of time that kids (especially younger ones) spend on their computer or games.  It’s rare to see a teenager without his/her eyes on that cell phone, texting.  Outdoor activities can be helpful to balance exercise with sitting all the time. pb

 

Ergonomics, General Safety Issues

CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME

The definition of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke is a “painful, progressive condition caused by compression of a key nerve in the wrist.  The median nerve, which runs from the forearm into the hand, becomes pressed or squeezed at the wrist.  In some cases, there is no direct cause that can be identified as CTS, rather it is that the carpal tunnel is simply smaller in some persons than others.  However, the risk of developing this ailment is especially common in those performing such tasks as assembly line work.”

Others who may be considered at risk of developing CTS are:

  • Painters
  • Carpenters
  • Check-out Clerks
  • Drivers of trucks, taxis, and buses
  • Musicians
  • Accountants
  • Computer Operators
  • Typists
  • Those with hobbies such as needlepoint, knitting, gardening

Suggestions to those who think they have CTS are:

  • See a physician when symptoms first develop
  • Rest the wrists as much as possible, use ice to reduce swelling
  • Use proper ergonomics (science used to fit job to person’s anatomy and physiology)
  • Use stretching techniques
  • Change position often, get up and move around
  • Exercise your hands
  • Keep wrists straight while sleeping
  • Stay in good shape.  Eat right, sleep right, and try to maintain a healthy weight.
  • Take over the counter pain medication

Carpel Tunnel Syndrome is a very controversial topic.  Scientific data provided by NIOSH states that while symptoms of CTS are associated with incidents of wrist postures or highly repetitive manual acts, causation has not been established.  Also, the American Society of Surgeons of Hand has current literature that does not support a causal relationship between specific work activities and development of the disorder.  The strongest risk factor for CTS is structural and biological (genetic predisposition), rather than environmental and activity related.

Following a history and physical examination by a physician, the patient will probably be referred to be tested electrodiagnostically.  The most specific and reliable test is Combined Sensory Index, or Robinson index in order to determine if the diagnosis is Carpel Tunnel Syndrome or some other disorder.

Sources:
Wikipedia
NIOSH
National Institute of Neurological Disorders

There are arguments about CTS being caused by repetitive movement of the hand, as this disorder happens when inflamed tissues press against a major nerve in the wrist.  Pain, numbness, even in the arm, and weakness are symptoms.  According to many physicians, these symptoms are not CTS, and can be relieved by rest, change of position, splints, and over-the-counter painkillers.