If Your Hands and Wrists Hurt, Chiropractic May Help
By Sandy Schroeder
Most of us use our hands and wrists constantly to make our day happen at home and at work. After we put breakfast in motion and send everyone on their way, we may spend long periods at work using hands, wrists and thumbs to text and type. HarvardHealth reviews the many injuries that may come up.
Thumb pain – Constant use texting can trigger gradual or abrupt pain on the thumb side of the wrist that can move up the arm.
Locking finger pain – Using the fingers to push too hard on the keyboard can irritate the tendons that allow the fingers to bend. Fingers may lock up, pop or become increasingly painful.
Carpal tunnel syndrome – Over time, keyboard efforts may trigger tingling, pain and numbness in the index finger, thumb, middle finger, and ring finger as the median nerve is compressed in the carpal tunnel area of the wrist.
Neck and back pain – Long sessions hunched over a keyboard can create neck and back pain as the weight of the head exerts pressure on the tendons in the back and neck. Practicing good posture with the head balanced over the spine and the monitor positioned with the top of the screen at eye level will help eliminate strain.
How Your Chiropractor Can Help
Stop by The Joint Chiropractic clinic near you to seek relief. The Joint’s doctors of chiropractic are well equipped to help.
When you come in, your chiropractor will ask about your pain, your daily work routine and your health history. A thorough review of the pain will be done and referrals will be made if additional assessments are needed.
Your chiropractor may also suggest taking a break from your keyboard, using voice commands or a special stylus in place of thumbs.
A review of your workstation may be done to make sure forearms are parallel to the floor, wrists are in line with forearms and elbows are at a 90-degree angle at the waist. An adjustable office chair should be used that provides good shoulder and lumbar support and keeps feet flat on the floor. A vertical mouse will put less stress on the hand. Positioning the mouse in front, instead of at the side, will also reduce stress.
To get started, stop by The Joint Chiropractic clinic near you. Find out how simple everything can be with affordable personal healthcare plans that require no insurance. No appointments are needed, and clinics are open weekends and evenings.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Atlanta, Ga.