From the Research
Association between Computer Use and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- The relationship between computer use and carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) has been investigated in several studies, with mixed results 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
- A systematic review of eight epidemiological studies found insufficient evidence to conclude that computer work causes CTS, due to limitations such as imprecise exposure and outcome assessment, low statistical power, and potential biases 1.
- A meta-analysis of 12 studies found that computer use was inversely associated with CTS in some studies, but positively associated with CTS in others, particularly among office workers with excessive computer use and mouse usage 2.
Risk Factors for CTS among Computer Users
- A study of 60 computer users with suspected occupational CTS found that non-occupational factors such as obesity, hypothyroidism, and hormonal replacement therapy were more common etiological factors for CTS than computer use 3.
- Another study found that computer professionals with over 8 years of computer work, over 12 hours of work per day, and system administrators were at a higher risk for CTS, with flexed or extended hand position also increasing the risk 5.
- A study of 37 healthy individuals found that continuous keyboarding caused acute changes in the median nerve, including increased cross-sectional area and swelling ratio, which were influenced by level of ulnar deviation 4.
Biomechanical Factors
- The study on keyboarding biomechanics found that peak ulnar deviation contributed to changes in median nerve cross-sectional area after 30 minutes of typing, suggesting a possible link between keyboarding and CTS 4.
- Ergonomic considerations, such as proper positioning of the hand while working with a computer, are important for preventing CTS among computer professionals 5.