Have you ever felt pain after typing or texting? If so, you’re not alone. More and more office workers and heavy phone users find themselves facing wrist pain from hours of intensive texting and typing. The repetitive motions required to type out text messages can lead to common wrist injuries or more permanent hand medical conditions such as carpel tunnel.
In the age of constant texting and long hours of typing in the office, it is no surprise that our hands and wrists are getting used more than ever before. We rely heavily on our hands for all kinds of tasks nowadays, so hand and wrist injuries have become more common. Injuries can range anywhere from a mild stain to more serious injuries such as De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis, Trigger Finger or even Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. These hand and wrist conditions are not exclusively linked to just overusing the keyboard or phone, but they do however increase your chances of getting them. These medical conditions can also happen when done in conjunction with lifting heavy weights or simply by being more prone to getting them.
Thankfully, there are ways to prevent these hand and wrist injuries from happening. The first thing you may want to consider is stretching. Think about it, if you went for a run every day, the first thing you would do is stretch. You do this to keep your muscles flexible, strong, and healthy. The same thing can be said about your wrists. Before you begin your day, try stretching your wrists to help maintain a range of motion in your joints and tendons. If you do end up having some hand or wrist pain, you may want to consider using a brace. Wearing a brace can support and aid in healing especially if you must use the keyboard to work. Another good strategy is to remember R.I.C.E. This acronym stands for Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. Taking a break from your phone and resting your wrist with some ice is the best idea if you are experiencing some pain. You can also prevent pain by cutting your time from your phone if you can so that you can give your wrists a break.
Using technology has become a large part of everyday life, but it can also have a negative effect on our wrists and hands. As office workers and heavy phone users alike find themselves facing wrist pain from hours of intensive typing and texting, we must be mindful of our bodies’ limits. Taking the time to stretch before you start your day or take breaks throughout to rest your wrists can go a long way in preventing injuries. Additionally, using helpful ergonomic tools such as wrist brackets and adjustable keyboards can make a difference.
For more information on how texting and typing can affect the hand and wrist, click here.
Article written by William Graves.