More than ever, we are becoming increasingly dependent on computers and mobile phones to work, communicate, and gather information. Having a surplus of information at our fingertips is pretty impressive. However, the long hours of using our fingers to be constantly connected can be detrimental to our hands and wrists.

There are a number of health issues associated with such overuse.

Causes of hand and wrist pain include:

• Tendinitis – presenting as pain and swelling, tendinopathies are due to inflammation of the tendon sheaths that surround the tendons.

• Ligamentous strains and sprains – normally occurs in the wrist – often when you put out your hand to stop a fall.

• Carpal tunnel syndrome – occurring fairly often in pregnancy and often a common cause of wrist pain generally, this syndrome is due to compression of the median nerve as it travels through the wrist to the hand.

• Arthritis – causing pain and swelling, arthritis is another common cause of wrist and hand pain. In most cases, osteopathy can help to alleviate the symptoms often treating locally in the hand and wrist area using soft tissue and joint mobilisation techniques.

Preventing Repetitive Injuries

Finally, here are a few guidelines for preventing repetitive wrist and hand injuries and curbing painful symptoms:

Give your hands a break from your keypad, brief break every 30 minutes.

Try to keep wrists flat or “neutral” while typing.

Relax your shoulders. A lot of us are prone to store stress in our shoulders.

Best wishes, David