Preventing carpal tunnel syndrome.

Orthopedic surgeons have developed special exercises that can help prevent carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). The exercises, which should be done at the start of each work shift and after each break, decrease the median nerve pressure responsible for CTS.

Moreover, their research also determined that newly diagnosed carpal tunnel syndrome patients should not do everyday activities such as ring a doorbell, hold a coffee cup, or push a shopping cart with the affected hand for the first seven to 10 days of conservative, nonsurgical treatment. These simple activities were found to increase intra-tunnel pressure on the median nerve of the wrist substantially, thus worsening the condition, explains Houshang Seradge, clinical assistant professor of orthopedic surgery, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.

"Any hand/wrist movement will actually reduce the benefit obtained by wearing a wrist brace/splint," he points out. Standard conservative treatment for CTS is the...