Typing all day at work. Playing on your smartphone. Scrolling through your tablet at home. It’s undeniable: our wrists endure more stress than ever before! As remote work becomes increasingly common, many professionals spend hours typing away at their keyboards, often not realizing the cumulative impact on their wrist health until discomfort sets in.
While wrist pain from typing might seem minor at first, it can develop into a persistent problem affecting both work performance and daily activities. However, chiropractic care may help prevent and treat wrist pain, helping you power-through; here’s how!
Why Wrist Pain Happens From Prolonged Typing
When you type, your wrists are engaged in repetitive motions while often held in unnatural positions. While your wrists contain numerous small bones, tendons, and nerves that work harmoniously when properly aligned, during prolonged typing, these structures experience constant stress—especially when your wrists rest against the edge of your desk or keyboard.
The carpal tunnel, a narrow passageway in your wrist that houses important nerves and tendons, can further become compressed when your wrists are repeatedly held in awkward positions. This compression, combined with the repetitive typing motion, creates inflammation in the surrounding tissues.
Additionally, poor posture during typing often leads to compensation patterns that extend from your neck and shoulders down to your wrists, creating a chain reaction of misalignment.
How Do I Get Rid of Wrist Pain from Typing?
The good news is that there are many ways to combat wrist pain (and prevent it), including:
Creating an Ergonomic Workspace Setup
Creating an optimal typing environment involves positioning your keyboard at the right height and angle, ensuring your wrists remain in a neutral position while typing. Your chair height, desk setup, and monitor position all play vital roles in preventing wrist strain.
Taking Regular Breaks and Movement
Taking scheduled breaks from typing helps prevent the buildup of tension in your wrists. Short pauses every hour allow wrist structures to reset and reduce the risk of repetitive strain. During these breaks, simple wrist movements can help maintain flexibility and circulation.
Learning Proper Typing Technique
Many people develop habits that put unnecessary strain on their wrists. Learning and maintaining proper typing technique keeps your wrists in alignment and distributes the workload more evenly across your hands and fingers.
Maintaining Nerve and Joint Health
The health of your neck and upper back directly impacts your wrist comfort. When nerves are compressed in your upper body, it can manifest as wrist pain. Maintaining proper spinal alignment helps ensure optimal nerve function throughout your arms and hands.
Visiting Your Local Lithia Chiropractor
Chiropractic care offers a comprehensive solution by addressing both local wrist issues and the broader musculoskeletal system. Through specific adjustments, chiropractors can help restore proper joint mobility in your wrists, arms, and spine. This approach helps reduce nerve compression and promotes better overall function.
Your Lithia chiropractor can assess how your typing posture affects your entire body and identify areas of misalignment contributing to your wrist pain. By addressing these underlying issues, chiropractic care helps create lasting relief rather than just temporary symptom management.
Additionally, chiropractors can provide guidance on proper ergonomics and recommend specific modifications to your workspace setup. This preventive approach helps maintain the benefits of treatment and reduce the likelihood of future problems.
Find Relief for Your Wrist Pain Today!
Uncover how chiropractic care can help you work with greater ease (and less pain!). With the At Last Chiropractic team, we can work together to determine the best path forward for you, helping you overcome pain and prevent it before it happens. Book your appointment today.
