Computer use not a big risk for carpal tunnel syndrome

By Geoff Michaels, May 6th, 2013 | Health | 0 Comments

A large study from Denmark suggests that use of a computer keyboard and mouse is probably not linked to the development of carpal tunnel syndrome.
There has been a dramatic rise in the use of computer technology which has been linked to fears that heavy use of keyboards and a mouse interface might damage the nerves of the hand. Researchers in Denmark studied the incidence of carpal tunnel syndrome (CPS) among a group of nearly 10,000 employees to see if computer use has an impact.

In CPS, there is tingling, numbness and pain which arises from damage to the median nerve in the hand. In this study, around five per cent had symptoms typical of CPS while about 11 per cent, overall, had some tingling and numbness. Use of a mouse for more than 20 hours a week was linked to a possible increase in risk of CPS, but the use of a computer keyboard was not. Tingling and numbness not related to CPS was probably, say the researchers, due to some other medical condition or just related to the stresses and strains of everyday life.