What is carpal tunnel syndrome?
Why does it cause wrist pain?
 Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a medical condition in which the median nerve is compressed at the wrist (carpal tunnel), which may result in numbness, tingling, weakness, general wrist pain or even muscle atrophy in the hand and fingers.(1,2)
The carpal tunnel receives its name from the eight bones in the wrist (called carpals), which form a tunnel-like structure. The tunnel is filled with flexor tendons, which control finger movement, the median and ulnar nerves and blood vessels. Repetitive flexing and extension of the wrist may cause a thickening of the protective sheaths that surround each of the tendons. The swollen tendon sheaths apply increased pressure on the median nerve and produce the wrist pain associated with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. (9)
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome became widely known to the general public in the 1990s as a result of the significant increase in chronic wrist pain due to the rapid expansion of office jobs. (1)
In 2001, BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor) reported 26,794 CTS cases involving days away from work in USA. During 1992–2001, annual rates declined 30.2% to a rate of 3.0 per 10,000 full-time workers in 2001. Most cases involved workers who were aged 25–54, female, and white, non-Hispanic.
Two occupational groups accounted for more than 70% of all Carpal Tunnel Syndrome cases in 2001: operators (keyboard, etc), fabricators, and laborers and technical, sales, and administrative support. Incidence rates exceeding the private-sector rate were reported for manufacturing and finance, insurance, and real estate. (11)
Carpal tunnel syndrome and RSI in the workplace
The wrist pain and upper body pain associated with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is the most commonly recognized of all the RSI [a repetitive strain injury (RSI), also called repetitive stress injury or cumulative trauma]. It is an occupational overuse affecting muscles, tendons and nerves in the arms, shoulder and upper back; hence it is also known as work related upper limb disorder or WRULD. The medically accepted condition in which it occurs is when muscles in these areas are kept tense for very long periods of time, due to poor posture and/or repetitive motions, or continuous repetitive use of a joint.
Grocery store clerks, computer users, meat processors, laboratory technicians, dental hygienists, hair dressers, house painters, carpenters use the same part of their anatomy in performing their daily activities. Muscles called the flexor muscles are located on the inside of the forearm (palm side) and are implicated in almost all cases of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. (3-5, 6) Many sufferers of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome experience occasional wrist pain before the condition becomes chronic.
If you experience wrist pain – even if it is not all of the time – NOW is the time to take action to reduce the risk it develops into full-blown Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. That is why we created this web site: to help people avoid the pain and discomfort associated with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and other repetitive strain injuries.
NEXT: The warning signs and symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
OR: Try the Free Carpal Tunnel relief exercises
Bibliography
1) http://www.ctsplace.com/
2) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carpal_tunnel_syndrome
3) Y. Yagev; M. Gringolds; I. Karakis; R. S. Carel Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Occupational Risk Factors Under-recognized by Clinicians, Industrial Health (in publication)
4) Y. Yagev, R. S. Carel, R. Yagev. Assessment of Work-Related Risks Factors for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. IMAJ 2001;3:569-571.
5) Y. Yagev, R. S. Carel, K. Izabella. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome – Occupational Risk Factors (Review).
6) http://www.selfcare4rsi.com/carpal-tunnel-syndrome.html
7) Keith T. et al., Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and its Relation to Occupation: a Systematic Literature Review. Occup. Med., January 2007; 57: 57 - 66.
8) Jerosch-Herold C et al. A Systematic Review of Outcomes Assessed in Randomized Controlled Trials of Surgical Interventions for CTS using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) as a Reference Tool. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2006; 7: 96.
9) http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/articles/article.aspx?ArticleID=88
10) http://www2.cdc.gov/niosh-chartbook/ch2/ch2-6-1.asp
11) BLS, 2003b. Occupational injuries and illnesses in the United States: profiles data 1992–2001, version 9.0. CD–ROM. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Safety and Health Statistics Program. [www.bls.gov/iif/]
12) O'Connor D., et al. Non-Surgical Treatment (other than steroid injection) for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2003;(1).
13) Verhagen A. P., et al., Ergonomic and Physiotherapeutic Interventions for Treating Work-Related Complaints of the Arm, Neck or Shoulder in Adults Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 2006.
14) http://www.repetitive-strain.com/Articles1/carpal-tunnel-syndrome-prevention.html
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