Experts debate reasons for fall in carpal tunnel cases

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/biz/5657166.html

March 28, 2008, 5:24PM
Experts debate reasons for fall in carpal tunnel cases

By ELLEN SIMON
Associated Press

NEW YORK — Can a workplace epidemic be cured?

With the personal computing boom of the 1990s came thousands of “repetitive stress injuries” or “repetitive strain injuries.” RSI became the hip medical acronym of the keyboard era, with subset carpal tunnel syndrome the diagnosis of the day.

“At its height of diagnosis, anybody showing up at a doctor’s office with wrist pain or hand pain was being diagnosed with carpal tunnel,” said Carol Harnett, vice president of insurer Hartford Financial Services Group’s group benefits division.

Since then, carpal tunnel cases have plummeted, declining 21 percent in 2006 alone, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Among workers in professional and business services, the number of carpal tunnel syndrome cases fell by half between 2005 and 2006.

What changed?

First, it may not have been the white-collar epidemic it appeared to be.

A 2001 study by the Mayo Clinic found heavy computer users (up to seven hours a day) had the same rate of carpal tunnel as the general population. Harvard University headlined a 2005 news release: Computer use deleted as carpal tunnel syndrome cause.

FULL story at link.

[Hestia]

1. of course, it could be that all the jobs have been outsourced and those

same people who may have acquired RSI now no longer have to worry about that, while they are waiting in soup kitchen lines. Go figure...

[JDPriestly]

2. Carpal tunnel can be due to a number of things.

One of them is tension in the way you hold your arm and hands. Pianists get it. People have simply learned how to use computers without abusing their arms. In addition, a lot of offices have ergonomic reviews that help their employees avoid carpal tunnel. Proper posture is a key. So is moving and wiggling flexibly as you work.

[Hissyspit]

3. Well I developed Carpal Tunnel Syndrome last November & it hurts like hell & it's not my imagination

and it was from computer usage.

[shraby]

4. Ever type on an old Underwood upright?

That's what I learned on. Never have had carpal tunnel and for the last 10 years or so I've typed every day for upwards of ten hours working on my website. You knew you'd been someplace when you used an upright.

[flashl]

5. Maybe its too expensive for folks to complaint about and go the doctor ?

They may be reserving that doctor's visit for more serious complaints.

[Vincardog]

6. They may be reserving that doctor's visit for more serious complaints. Only the ones who still have

Jobs and Insurance.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

7. Yep, they've lost their jobs and insurance.

I knew several court reporters in Federal court who had their careers destroyed due to overwork. They were crippled by carpal tunnel syndrome. If the damn supervisors had not been so short-sighted, they could have preserved the court reporters' ability to work, but no, they had to work them into disability.

thanks a lot, bosses! :grr: