People with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) can have a hard time doing simple things. Typing, buttoning a shirt or lifting something can be painful. The problems are often due to muscle weakness, numbness in the hands and diminished feeling in the fingers.

These problems stem from damage to the median nerve. This nerve controls feelings on the palm side of the thumb and fingers and impulses to muscles that help move the fingers and thumb. The median nerve gets pressed or squeezed as it passes through a narrow, tube at the base of the hand. This tube, the carpal tunnel, contains ligaments, bones, tendons and the median nerve. The pain comes from irritated tendons or swelling that narrows the tunnel, causing the median nerve to compress.

CTS can produce burning or tingling in the palms of hands and fingers, most often in the thumb, index and middle fingers. These symptoms may first occur at night in one or both hands. Tingling may show up during the day as symptoms get worse, and can lead to a decrease in hand strength.

Who gets CTS?
Women are three times more likely than men to get CTS. This may be due to the smaller size of the carpal tunnel itself in women compared with men.

CTS is also common in people who do assembly line work, use vibrating equipment or have jobs involving repetitive motion like data processing.

Other factors that can make it more likely you'll develop CTS include:

• Diabetes
• Autoimmune diseases
• Connective tissue disorders
• Hormonal conditions (pregnancy/postpartum)
• Family history

Prevention
Some experts think CTS is a disease determined by a person's genes and thus can't be prevented. But others think it can be avoided with healthy habits and limiting certain activities.

The following measures may help you prevent carpal tunnel syndrome:

• Lose weight.
• Make sure you're being treated for any condition that can cause CTS.
• Avoid repetitive hand motions, especially those with forceful thrusts. If you do repetitive tasks:
• • Try not to bend, extend or twist your hands for long periods.
  • Avoid extreme wrist positions during flexion or extension.
  • Take frequent breaks.
• Don't work at a desk where your arms are too close in or too far from your body.
• Keep hands and wrists relaxed to avoid excessive force on keyboards.
• Switch hands during tasks.
• Avoid prolonged gripping.
• Don't use tools that are too big for your hands.
• Avoid using vibrating tools for long periods.
• Take frequent rest and stretching breaks.

Other prevention strategies
There are many success stories for lowering the incidence of CTS and tendinitis and related workplace insurance claims. Many companies now conduct ergonomics inspections and awareness campaigns and have replaced older office equipment.

Products like wrist rests are touted to prevent or ease CTS symptoms. But the American Academy of Family Physicians says there is no proof that these products really stop problems.

Consider replacing your mouse with a trackball device and a standard keyboard with an ergonomic model. Wrist rests in front of the keyboard or mouse can help keep wrists and fingers in comfortable positions.