Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Unrelated to Typing?

hug_the_penguin writes "Betanews is reporting about a Harvard medical school report that suggests Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is unrelated to typing at all. Suggested causes may be genetic disposition, body weight, fractured bones or even pregnancy." From the article: "Now, don't go out typing to your heart's content. Researchers still warned that improper computer use could cause different types of repetitive stress injuries, of which carpal tunnel is incorrectly described as one."

How come we never hear...

[voice_of_all_reason]

"What doesn't kill you makes you stronger"

I mean, doesn't typing just increase flexibility and muscle strength in the wrist?

Not really news...

[DaHat]

... or at least not to me.

Years ago I went to the Dr about some pain in my hands and wrists and he determined it was carpel tunnel.

Funny thing though... I don't have issues with typing... in fact, I'd had it for longer than I'd had a computer... and it really only exhibited itself when clutching something, like a pen, mouse or other controller.

Shame... I had it before it became all the rage.

Re:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is sooo last week...

[smittyoneeach]

Recalls the George Carlin routine discussing the progression from "shellshock" to "combat fatigue" to "post-traumatic stress disorder". Publish or perish means elaborating on existing ideas far beyond any appropriate abstraction level.

Re:Hmm...

[squoozer]

I'm sure this will be mentioned by others I find that the mouse, rather than the keyboard, is the thing that really brings on RSI. I've asked around it seems quite a few people have come to the same conclusion but I've not really heard it mentioned in the press.

They are right - sort of

[canuck57]

"Betanews is reporting about a Harvard medical school report that suggests Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is unrelated to typing at all.

I didn't get mine by typing, I got it from the mouse. Having clicked for so long I finally got sharp pains and the symptoms. And does it hurt.

So I switched to my left hand for the mouse, continue to type and it is slowly getting better.

Might I suggest to researchers to really do some pure no BS research. What they might find is the ergonomics of many of todays offices and computers are the problem. Some I/T people work in closets. And that "touch pad" on my portable, more than once I have thought about taking an electric drill to it to destroy it.

Computers need to fit people, not the other way around.

My study shows that .....

[Llamakiller-4]

My study shows that there's a 90% certainty that a college that is receiving major donations from American Corporations (that are paying large disability amounts to affected workers) are encouraging young college students to do these sort of studies. ie: If you look for something hard enough, you will find enough circumstantial evidence to make it seem true.
Everyone who reads Slashdot probably types a great deal and perhaps plays computer or console games. Anyone here not ever lose track of the time and type/play for an entire evening and have your wrist or fingers get sore? Of course you have.
If you had genetically weaker fingers or wrists, it would merely take less time for the carpal tunnel symptoms to appear than it would for others. That study implies that other "genetically disposed" people wouldn't get carpal tunnel - Sit them at my terminal and let them type code for 10 hours straight per day and we'll see.
While we're on the "Genetically Disposed" bandwagon, let's not forget that corporate America wants that DNA testing to see if you're predisposed to any illnesses that they might have to pay for later in your work career. That's the Insurance Industries "Holy Grail" and don't think that it will never come to pass in the future that you won't be able to get meaningful employment because you're DNA says you're likely to get some condition that they'll have to pay for later. Everyone here probably had to take a physical as a term of employment - what if they added DNA testing to deny you employment because of what you "might" get in the future?

Lk4

Re:Nietzsche and his quotes

[benzapp]

"Oh, you people of sound understandings," I replied, smiling, "are ever ready to exclaim, 'Extravagance, and madness, and intoxication!' You moral men are so calm and so subdued! You abhor the drunken man, and detest the extravagant; you pass by, like the Levite, and thank God, like the Pharisee, that you are not like one of them. I have been more than once intoxicated, my passions have always bordered on extravagance: I am not ashamed to confess it; for I have learned, by my own experience, that all extraordinary men, who have accomplished great and astonishing actions, have ever been decried by the world as drunken or insane. And in private life, too, is it not intolerable that no one can undertake the execution of a noble or generous deed, without giving rise to the exclamation that the doer is intoxicated or mad? Shame upon you, ye sages!" -Goethe, Sorrows of Young Werther

Technically correct maybe...

[wanax]

Speaking as somebody who just this passed Wednesday had a doctor's appointment related to repetitive stress from typing..

The report is most likely technichally correct. What many people call carpel tunnel is actually various ligament overuse disorders (which are typing related), rather than nerve compression. One main way to tell, is that nearly all the wrist/forearm/elbow pain, 'itchiness' etc, is related to ligament issues, the nerve compression (which is carpel tunnel disorder) part causes numbness, 'falling alseep' type symptoms etc.

However, the ligament overuse problems, if left untreated for too long, can eventually cause carpel tunnel, because the ligaments and the nerves go through the same tunnels in the wrist, so if the ligaments are inflamed for too long, it can cause long term nerve compression and carpel tunnel disorder.

Basically my advice, is if you're having any wrist/forearm issues: see a doctor early rather than later, because it can get dramatically worse if left untreated.

Not keyboards

[MaggieL]

I don't think keyboard use is the source of most of this...it's much more due to pointing devices. Switching from mouse to trackball has been very helpful to me.

Touchpad $*!#@

[BennyB2k4]

[And that "touch pad" on my portable, more than once I have thought about taking an electric drill to it to destroy it.]

Many times I've caught myself using the touchpad with my wrist bent backwards as far as it goes and middle finger straight down sliding around. I look down and think, "What the hell am I doing".

I would think "awareness" is one of the biggest preventers of RPI. You just have to train yourself to think before you type. Usually it only takes 2 or 3 seconds to get into a better position.

Re:Hmm...

[lawpoop]

Because back then people called it 'arthritis', and when you couldn't type anymore, they found someone else to do it?

Nowadays, every office worker has to be on the computer *all the time*. Typing isn't just a "Secretary, type this memo up" half-hour deal anymore. It's a 9-5 thing for everyone in the office. If you can't type anymore, you might lose your job.

Re:How come we never hear...

[Dun Malg]

"What doesn't kill you makes you stronger"

FWIW, Nietzsche's point is somewhat missed in translation. He's paraphrasing an old saying "that which doesn't kill, hardens". It just generally means that surviving adversity leaves you better equipped to survive further adversity. Nothing to do with physical "strength".

I mean, doesn't typing just increase flexibility and muscle strength in the wrist?

Typing consists of small, weak muscle movements through a very tiny range of motion. Flexibility comes from pushing the boundaries of range of motion, and strength comes from pushing the boundaries of a muscle's capabilities. Typing is only slightly better than sitting around with all the muscles in your hands tensed, fingers splayed out straight and stiff.