 Carpal tunnel syndrome and
repetitive stress disorders are preventable. The best possible scenario is never to develop symptoms, to work intelligently and to respect your body's needs. But if trouble does begin it is extremely important to act immediately,
before the symptoms become a big problem. Pain and burning are the #1 indicators that something is wrong. The discomfort and pain can be in your fingers, hand, wrist, forearm, elbow, shoulder, neck, upper back or
lower back. It is much better to take these preventative steps while you are pain-free, instead of waiting for major dysfunction. And if you are experiencing symptoms, you should see a health care professional immediately.
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Checklist for Prevention:  The most important thing to do is to get up from your desk and move around every 1/2 hour. Take your eyes off your computer screen and gaze into the far distance. Drink a glass of water. Some computers have alarm clock functions which can be set to remind you to
get up. If you don't have such a function there are shareware programs you can download which will act as a timer (there are many to choose from, go to www.shareware.com and search for "timer" and you'll see a large selection of free timers you can run on your computer).
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Stay aware of your posture while you are sitting at your desk working and observe your attitude about task completion. It is as important to take care of the "tool", your body, as the task.
Do not eat your lunch at your desk. During your lunch break do an activity that involves physical exercise: walking, go to the gym, shopping.
Include full body stretches in your daily activity, emphasize the upper body. Stretch before you go to sleep at night. Observe your sleeping position. Don't curl up your wrists or put your arm under your head when
sleeping on your side. Make sure that you have the right pillow height for sleeping. The neck should be supported, but too many pillows will create problems as well. You want the head to rest
comfortably. The neck should be in line with the rest of the spine. Check that your work station is set up correctly. Monitor screen should be eye level or below eye level. New keyboards and mouse designs can help prevent strain. (See
SoreHand for suggestions.)Develop an exercise program that includes upper
body strength, so that you can sit comfortably in an upright position without slouching. The program must also include exercise for flexibility, to stretch out the contracted muscles of the wrist, arm,
shoulder, neck and upper back. If pain persists, go to a competent health-care professional who is experienced in treating carpal tunnel and repetitive stress disorders. |
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Exercises Here are some yoga-based exercises which you can do in
the office during the course of the day to help prevent carpal tunnel and repetitive stress injuries. Hold the positions for a few breaths and let the stretch increase but do not force it. The most important part of each exercise is
to become aware of your body and your breathe. 1. Full body stretch at the wall & Stretching the shoulders Stand up facing the wall and reach your fingers up as far as you can. While you stretch up also stretch down by placing your feet firmly into the floor. Firm up your legs, extend the side of
the torso and bring the shoulder blades towards the wall. Breathe fully as you stretch, walking your fingers up the wall. Move little away from the wall so that your torso is diagonal to your hips and press both palms into the wall equally. Press into the ground with your feet, firm up your legs
and release your tailbone away from the wall. Lift up the ribs and let your head drop slightly. You can also do this with the back of a chair. Place your hands on the chair and walk back until your torso is extended
parallel with the floor. Firm up the legs, lift up your abdominal muscles and lift the ribs while releasing the spine, tailbone away from the chair and top of the spine towards it. |
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 2. Forearm
and wrist
Place the right palm at the wall, spreading your fingers equally. Extend your elbow and
press the palm fully into the wall. Wait a few breaths and then turn your head to the left, bringing the tip of the right shoulder blade in towards the front of your body. Hold and breathe. |
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 3. Extended full body stretch
Take your arms out to the sides with the palms facing down. Extend your
fingers and stretch through the elbows. On an exhale rotate your shoulders back and bring the palms facing up.
 On your next exhale bring the arms up overhead with the palms facing each other. Again, press the feet into the floor and firm up your legs, stretch the side torso. After a few breaths,
interlock your fingers and press the palms up to the ceiling, stretching the fingers and palm open. Hold this stretch and then, on an exhale, curve to the side . Repeat on the other side. This can also be done seated at
your desk. If you are seated, make sure to press the thigh bones deeply into your chair as you stretch up.
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4. Sitting posture
Practice sitting with an upright torso, the sides of the torso extending and the head resting comfortably on the neck.
Bring your hands down to the seat of the chair and roll the shoulders back, bringing the shoulder blades into the back. Some of the following
poses can be done either standing or sitting. If you are seated, move forward on your chair and place your feet firmly in the ground, press your thigh bones into the chair and extend your torso upwards with your shoulders
dropping down. If you are standing, remember to keep your feet planted firmly in the ground and your legs strong. |
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5. Opening the chest
Interlock your fingers behind your back with the palms facing the torso. Roll the shoulders back, but keep the ribs from poking forward. Stretch
your elbows and arms on the exhale and hold it for a few breaths. On the exhale, bend your elbows and bring your wrists to the right side waist, gently pressing the right elbow towards the left. Release and do the other
side, then repeat still again with the fingers interlocked with the opposite thumb on top. |
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 6. Opening the mid-back
Hug your body, placing the right hand on your left shoulder and left hand on your right shoulder.
Breathe into the area between your shoulder blades. On the exhale, bring the lower arms perpendicular to the floor, the palms facing each other. Stretch the fingers up, and on the next
exhale, raise the elbows up to shoulder height. Hold for a few breaths and then repeat on the other side. |
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7. Releasing the neck
Shrug the shoulders high up to the ears and then release and drop. Repeat at least 3 times. |
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8. Releasing the side of the neck
Sit forward on the seat of your chair with your feet planted firmly in the floor. With your right hand reach back to the seat back or
the rear of the seat itself. Extend the torso and drop the chin into the chest. Pull diagonally to the left and place your left hand on the right side of your head, gently pulling the head
away from the right shoulder. Hold and breath, stretching from the base of the skull to the shoulder. Repeat to the other side. |
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9. Twisting the torso
With the feet planted firmly in the ground, and the thigh bones pressing into your chair, exhale and lift and turn the belly
to the right. Let your hands help you turn by pressing into the seat or the back of the chair. Gradually increase the twist and let your eye gaze turn to the right around your shoulder. Repeat to the other side. Remember to keep
breathing slowly and deeply as you twist. |
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10. Stretching forearms
Bring your palms together in front of your chest in a prayer position stretching all the fingers fully. Relax your shoulders. Slowly
stretch the heel of your palms down until they are the level of your wrists. If you can do this stretch without discomfort you can increase the stretch by moving the hands over to the right and holding for a few
breaths. Repeat to the left. Stretch slowly and carefully, observing the sensations of your forearm and wrist. |
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11. Stretching the wrist
Make fists of your hands and place them, thumb up, on the desk top . Support your lower arm on the desk. Slowly stretch the fist to the
right, without moving your lower arm, and then to the left. |
Lift your arms off the desk top and make slow circles with your wrist, keeping your hands in closed fists. Circle both directions. |
Release your fingers and place them, tips up, on the edge of your desk. Press into the desk with the fingers. Try this first with the fingers together and then spread apart. |
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 12. Stretching the fingers
Place the index finger on the edge of your desk, keeping your wrists straight. Gently push into
the desk and hold for a few breaths. Repeat with all the fingers except the thumb. |
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13. Stretching the thumb
Place your right palm on the desk top with your wrist straight. Relax all your fingers. With your left hand slowly stretch the right thumb away
from the forefinger. Hold for a few breaths and then release and do the other hand. |
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14. Shaking out tension
Shake out your wrists and arms, letting them dangle from your shoulders. |
Rotate your shoulders
forward and back. |
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15. Relax the eyes and breathe  Turn your head right and left, looking into the far distance with your eye gaze. Close your eyes and take some deep, slow breaths with your belly soft.
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Now that you’ve done these exercises, try our
Everyday Yoga exercises, too. |
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Ellen Serber is a yoga teacher, certified in the Iyengar tradition and a Tai Chi Chu'an teacher, certified by Sifu Kuo Lien Ying. She has been teaching in Northern California since
1970. Her writing has appeared in Somatics, Yoga Journal and International Journal of Yoga Therapy.
She can be contacted via email.
 Daniel Will-Harris is the editor of
eFuse.com. He is a writer and designer whose work can be found at
his Web site. His site features TypoFile Magazine and EsperFonto, the Web's only typeface selection system. He may be reached via e-mail at daniel@will-harris.com.
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