Did you know that Carpal Tunnel
Syndrome (CTS) can affect anyone? None of us are immune to developing CTS as
roughly 1 out of 20 of us will develop CTS in our lifetime! This month, let’s
look at some of the risk factors for developing CTS.
1) Race: Caucasians carry the greatest risk of developing CTS.
2) Gender: Women are three times more likely than men to develop
CTS. This may be because female wrists are smaller and shaped a little
differently than male wrists, but hormonal differences are probably the most
important reason for this variance.
3) Pregnancy: Up to 62% of pregnant women develop CTS. This is
thought to be due to the excess fluid retention that normally occurs during
pregnancy and most likely stems from the elevation in hormone levels that NORMALLY occurs during pregnancy. The
prevalence in the first, second, and third trimesters is 11%, 26%, and 63%,
respectively, thus supporting the fact that the risk increases with the length
of the pregnancy. Though CTS usually resolves after giving birth, symptoms can
continue for as long as three years following delivery!
4) Birth
Control Pill (BCP): The use of BCPs
increases CTS risk due to an increase in hormonal levels similar to the CTS
risk increase during pregnancy.
5) Occupational: Workers in highly repetitive, hand-intensive
occupations (such as line work, sewing, finishing, meat processing, poultry or
fish packing) have a higher rate of developing CTS.
6) Injury to
the wrist or hand: An obvious example
is a wrist fracture from a slip and fall, sports injury, or blunt trauma like a
car accident. When there is a direct pinch on the median nerve, nerve damage
can occur quite quickly, and as a result, the onset of symptoms can be very
fast. Less obvious injuries, which usually have significantly slower onsets,
include repetitive motion injuries, often referred to as “cumulative trauma
disorders” and include a group of conditions such as tendonitis, sprain/strain,
bursitis, and other types of soft tissue injuries.
7) Certain
conditions: Nerve damaging conditions
that can cause CTS include diabetes and alcoholism. Other conditions that can
contribute and/or cause CTS include menopause, obesity, thyroid disorders,
kidney failure, and more.
8) Inflammatory
conditions: These include several
types of arthritis such as rheumatoid, lupus, and others. Osteoarthritis is
technically NOT an “inflammatory” condition but it can cause CTS by compressing
the median nerve via a bone spur formed within the carpal tunnel.
9) Faulty work
stations: A job site has A LOT
to do with whether or not a person develops CTS. Though jobs that require fast,
repetitive movements pose the greatest risk (see #5 above), other work-related
factors that may be controllable can also significantly contribute to
the development of CTS. Some of these include the shape of tools such as
screwdriver handles shaped like a gun (pistol) which allow for better alignment
of the wrist than a “normal” straight screwdriver handle. Another is a power
tool that may have too much vibration or torques too hard at the end of a
cycle. A handle that is too cold/hard (e.g., metal handle) or that may be too
large for the worker’s hand is an additional factor to consider. Positioning
the work so that the wrists can stay straight vs. bent can be VERY helpful. In
fact, if some of these “ergonomic” factors are not fixed, CTS can be next to
impossible to remedy. Also, poor posture in the back, neck, and the rest of the
body can result in compensatory faulty postures elsewhere. Look in a mirror and
poke your chin out towards the mirror. Now look at your shoulders. See how they
roll forward and feel the strain in your upper back and neck? Keep your chin
tucked in, NOT out. This can make a BIG difference in your posture!
We realize you have a choice in
whom you consider for your health care provision and we sincerely appreciate
your trust in choosing our service for those needs. If you, a friend, or family member requires
care for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, we would be honored to render our services.
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