How to Modify Computer Equipment for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Ergonomics play an important role in preventing and controlling carpal tunnel syndrome. A person's workstation is often the cause of hand pain, so you should take steps to modify computer equipment for carpal tunnel syndrome even if you don't have it. Here are tips that will make your life easier.

Instructions

• 1

  Buy a wrist rest for your keyboard. These are long pieces of foam that support your hands while you are not typing. It's important not to rest your wrist while typing because the pressure can damage tendons.

• 2

  Look for an ergonomic mouse. The repetitive motion of clicking and using normal scroll wheels can often contribute to the development of carpal tunnel syndrome. An ergonomic mouse lets you click by shifting the entire weight of your hand and reduces strain on your index and middle fingers.

• 3

  Find a special split keyboard to force proper positioning and typing. These keyboards are separated in the middle so that wrists are kept straight and the user's hands can only reach the keys intended for them. Some keyboards also have programmable keys that can be used as shortcuts to common commands with the push of just one button.

• 4

  Change the height of your monitor so that you look straight at the screen and not down at it. You need to keep your neck and back straight to help prevent various repetitive strain injuries and carpal tunnel syndrome.

• 5

  Buy an external keyboard and mouse to make laptop use easier. Most laptops are not ergonomically designed but you can modify them with generic USB peripherals. You may also want to set your laptop on a stack of books to raise the screen up to a better level.

• 6

  Consider getting a phone headset to complement your modified computer equipment. Office workers who pinch the phone between their ear and shoulder while using the computer significantly increase the risk of carpal tunnel and neck injuries.

• 7

  Install voice recognition software to avoid typing all day. Look for a system that can be trained to recognize the quirks of your voice. You will have to allocate more time for editing because even the best voice recognition software still produces errors.