GeekSugar

5 Stretches For Strong and Limber Wrists

FitSugar — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 14:00:09 PDT

There are a lot of ways we put stress on our wrists: typing away at a computer, practicing yoga, playing tennis, or having an addictive texting habit are just a few. And it's so easy to forget how important it is to stretch out our forearms, hands, and wrists to undue all of that work. Here are five stretches that will ease away pain, help prevent carpal tunnel syndrome, and keep your wrists at their best.

Source: Thinkstock

16-Year-Old Schedules Wrist Surgery From Too Much Texting

GeekSugar — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 11:00:39 PDT

How do you know when your texting obsession has gone too far? When you have to have surgery on both of your wrists for a severe case of carpal tunnel syndrome, that's how! Take it from Annie Levitz, a 16-year-old student from Chicago who sends an average of 100 texts a day - the obsession just isn't worth it. Annie began feeling pain in her wrists after sending a boatload of texts daily (hopefully she has an unlimited texting plan!), which then developed into numbness and loss of feeling in her hands. After visiting a doctor, who diagnosed her with carpal tunnel syndrome, she started receiving shots to numb the pain, has been fitted with braces on both wrists, and will undergo surgery to correct the damage to her nerves.

I'll be the first to suggest that it's time parents and teachers alike start educating children on the health risks of too much technology - from texting to chatting with strangers online - and they should be taught to know when to put down the phone for health's sake. I'll make the first move - want to know how you can prevent an extreme case of carpal tunnel syndrome like Annie's? Just

Besides limiting your texting time (let's get real - 100 a day? At that point, maybe you should consider calling or sending an email), I have a handy exercise regime you can perform at your desk, on the bus, or before you hit the sack to keep your wrists healthy. Additionally, consider making your work stations and desks ergonomic - wrist guards for your mousing hand and keyboards, and making sure you're sitting at the right angle with a good chair. Finally, consider investing in a voice-to-text app like ShoutOut to give your hard-working wrists a break.

Source: Flickr User eron_gpsfs

Why Didn't Anybody Tell Me: Pregnancy and Carpal Tunnel

LilSugar — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 04:00:29 PDT

Pregnancy and motherhood are ripe with shocking, funny, embarrassing, and insightful moments. All too often we have that "how did I not know that?!" moment. We created the Why Didn't Anybody Tell Me? group in the LilSugar Community for you to share the things you wished somebody had told you, too. cheersdarlin916 shares her startling discovery:

I have been having issues with my forearms and my hands going painfully numb at night and the last couple of nights have been so bad it is causing me to loose sleep. I did some research online and then talked to a nurse at my doctor's office and sure enough I have carpal tunnel syndrome. Just when I think I get past one issue (be it nausea, insomnia, or getting GD under control) something else like this pops up. They tell me that it will likely go away within a month of having my baby but I am not even due for another three months. Good grief.

cheersdarlin916 isn't alone on this one. Studies have shown that one out of four pregnant women complain of the syndrome, usually in the second or third trimester of pregnancy. Did you experience it?

We want to hear your shocking pregnancy and motherhood stories. Join our Why Didn't Anybody Tell Me? group over in our LilSugar Community and dish your tales and tips.

Preventing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

FitSugar — Wed, 13 May 2009 10:00:00 PDT

Typing all day can be a pain in the wrist! I'm talking about carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), which occurs when the median nerve, running from the forearm into the hand, becomes compressed at the wrist. This nerve runs through the narrow carpal tunnel at the base of the hand, and controls sensations to the palm side of your thumb and fingers. It also signals movement in small hand muscles, creating motion in the fingers and thumb.

Women, whose smaller carpal tunnels make them more prone to developing this problem, are three times more likely than men to develop CTS. The tingly and painful syndrome can be caused by injury or fluid retention during pregnancy, but the most common causes are repetitive motions like typing and mousing.

To prevent carpal tunnel syndrome, try these suggestions:

Alter your desk ergonomics as needed. Adjust the height of your chair so your forearms are level with your keyboard so your wrists don't need to flex while typing.
Use a wrist pad ($9) that runs the length of your keyboard, propping up the heels of your palms, so your forearms, wrists, and hands are in one straight line. This position should prevent the median nerve from getting squeezed. If your mousing hand bothers you, try a mouse pad ($14) with extra cushioning to support your wrist.

There are three other suggestions, so

Using an ergonomic keyboard ($60) may provide space for the nerve by keeping your hands and wrists in a more natural position.
Try a vertical mouse ($53) that places your wrist in an more ergonomic position with your thumb pointing up. Or experiment with a Wacom Mouse Tablet ($100).
Take regular breaks from mousing and typing. Shake out your wrists and do some wrist stretches.

Source

Daily Tech: See a US Gadget Recycling Plant In Action

GeekSugar — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 12:40:06 PDT

Sims Recycling Solutions has 15 locations across the United States and recycles everything from cameras, printers, to computers. - Wired
Stroke patients are using video games to help their debilitated vision and the results have been phenomenal with some patients' receiving 90 percent of their vision back. - Switched
Check out some amazing gadget deals of the day including a refurbished HP Mini for $275. - Gizmodo
This video demonstration show you some great ways to help relieve carpal tunnel syndrome. - Boing Boing
According to environmental activists, Earth Hour proved to be a big success, with more than 4,000 cities and towns in 88 countries participating. - Forecast Earth

Geek Tip: Fight Hand Cramps, Carpal Tunnel With These Exercises!

GeekSugar — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 13:00:07 PDT

Although doctors say that mouse and computer use is not a severe occupational hazard for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, my hand cramps up somethin' fierce after working all day. To fight those cramps, discomfort, and hand boredom in general, do these quick hand exercises from eHand for mousing relief!

Sit or stand while doing the following exercises, and hold all stretches for a count of five!

Extend your hands.
Stretch both your wrists and fingers like you're doing a handstand.
Then, straighten your wrists and relax your fingers.
Make tight fists with both hands and bend them downward.
Straighten both your wrists and relax your fingers.
If you can stand up, shake out your arms and hands.
Remouse!

Source

5 Things: Preventing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

FitSugar — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 03:00:00 PDT

Since many of us are working on a computer all day, we may be putting ourselves at risk for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). It happens when the median nerve, which runs from the forearm into the hand, becomes pressed or squeezed at the wrist. This nerve controls sensations to the palm side of your thumb and fingers, as well as impulses to some small muscles in the hand that allow the fingers and thumb to move. The carpal tunnel is a narrow passageway of ligament and bones at the base of the hand, which houses the median nerve and tendons.

Some people are more prone to this because they have a smaller carpel tunnel. For this reason, women are three times more likely than men to develop CTS. It can also be caused by an injury, fluid retention during pregnancy, or repetitive motions like using a mouse or keyboard.

Here are some ways to prevent the pain and tingly sensations caused by CTS:

Check out the ergonomics of your desk setup. Adjust the height of your chair so that your forearms are level with your keyboard so you don't have to flex your wrists to type.
Using one of those pads that run along the length of your keyboard will prop up the heels of your palms, so that your forearms, wrists, and hands are in one straight line, which could prevent the nerve from getting squeezed. If your mousing hand bothers you, try one of those mouse pads that has extra cushioning you can rest your wrist on.

There are a few more suggestions, so

You may benefit from using one of those ergonomic keyboards so that your hands and wrists type in a more natural position.
If you're using a regular mouse and it bothers your wrist, pick up a vertical mouse so that your thumb is pointing straight up. It may feel more comfortable on your wrist.
Take breaks from mousing and typing. Shake out your wrists or do some wrist stretches.

Source

Why Didn't Anybody Tell Me? Carpal Tunnel

babysugar — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 11:00:25 PST

When you're pregnant, you expect your feet and ankles to swell and your fingers to puff up like lil sausages, but you don't expect the swelling in your wrists and hands to cause a mild case of carpal tunnel syndrome.

I first discovered this before going to bed at night. My wrists and hands had a dull pain and were even numb and tingly at times. I was alarmed enough to call my doctor. She told me I was experiencing a small and probably temporary case of carpal tunnel syndrome. According to ahealthyme.com:

"Some studies show that as many as one out of four pregnant women complains of the syndrome, usually in the second or third trimester of pregnancy when fluid retention in the arms and hands is more likely to put pressure on the nerve that leads to the hands and fingers."

A friend of mine had it bad enough that she had to treat the condition with an arm splint. I was able to alleviate some of the pain by sleeping with my arms propped up in an elevated position. Luckily for both of us, it went away soon after baby arrived.
Source

Do Computers Cause Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

GeekSugar — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 08:00:49 PDT

For years mothers and know-it-alls have insisted that computer use causes Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS), so a bunch of doctors recently embarked on a one year follow up study to determine the prevalence and incidence of possible CTS and to evaluate the contribution of use of mouse devices and keyboards to one's risk.

From what we know, CTS occurs when the median nerve, which runs from the forearm into the hand, becomes pressed or squeezed at the wrist, resulting in severe pain, weakness, or numbness in the hand and wrist.

According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, the study found that the occurrence of possible CTS in the right hand, which is usually the hand that controls your mouse, was low. The study emphasizes that computer use does not pose a severe occupational hazard for developing symptoms of CTS.

While I'm pleased to learn these findings, I can't deny the fact that my hands cramp up after hours at the keyboard and all the people I know who have suffered from CTS are writers or work at a computer all day. Do you think computer and mice use cause CTS, or do you think we do do enough strenuous work with our hands that CTS could be caused by virtually anything?

5 Healthy Breaks to Take Every Workday

Leta Shy — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 02:43:48 PST

If you're prone to sitting down most of the day at work, chances are you're often in need of a break. Here are five ways to keep your body feeling healthy and happy during those eight hours in your chair.

Rest your eyes: Those pupils need a rest. Reduce eye strain by closing your eyes or looking away from your screen for a few seconds every 15 minutes. Here are more tips for keeping your eyes healthy when using a computer.
Do some desk stretches: Chair stretches energize and relieve tension. Get in the habit of stretching when you feel tense or notice your posture is failing. We've got lots of stretches you can do at your desk to relieve neck and shoulder tension.
Exercise with a purpose: Being deskbound for so long can make us forget that we should be moving more. Try taking a five-minute walking break every hour or so when you need to get things done - take the longer route to the kitchen or bathroom, or go up and down a few flights of stairs while you're brainstorming. It's a good way to combat the dangerous effects of sitting down for so long.
Take a noncoffee break: Warm up with a cup of green tea; it'll help fill up your stomach to curb cravings, and you'll be getting a lot more disease-fighting antioxidants than if you reach for the coffee pot.
Relax the wrists: If you've been feeling twinges of pain, cramps, or other discomfort while you type away, be sure to regularly stretch your wrists. Here are five stretches to do to help prevent carpal tunnel syndrome.