Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Unrelated to Typing?

hug_the_penguin writes "Betanews is reporting about a Harvard medical school report that suggests Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is unrelated to typing at all. Suggested causes may be genetic disposition, body weight, fractured bones or even pregnancy." From the article: "Now, don't go out typing to your heart's content. Researchers still warned that improper computer use could cause different types of repetitive stress injuries, of which carpal tunnel is incorrectly described as one."

Comments

Not really news...

[DaHat]

... or at least not to me.

Years ago I went to the Dr about some pain in my hands and wrists and he determined it was carpel tunnel.

Funny thing though... I don't have issues with typing... in fact, I'd had it for longer than I'd had a computer... and it really only exhibited itself when clutching something, like a pen, mouse or other controller.

Shame... I had it before it became all the rage.

They are right - sort of

[canuck57]

"Betanews is reporting about a Harvard medical school report that suggests Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is unrelated to typing at all.

I didn't get mine by typing, I got it from the mouse. Having clicked for so long I finally got sharp pains and the symptoms. And does it hurt.

So I switched to my left hand for the mouse, continue to type and it is slowly getting better.

Might I suggest to researchers to really do some pure no BS research. What they might find is the ergonomics of many of todays offices and computers are the problem. Some I/T people work in closets. And that "touch pad" on my portable, more than once I have thought about taking an electric drill to it to destroy it.

Computers need to fit people, not the other way around.

Not keyboards

[MaggieL]

I don't think keyboard use is the source of most of this...it's much more due to pointing devices. Switching from mouse to trackball has been very helpful to me.

Re:Hmm...

[lawpoop]

Because back then people called it 'arthritis', and when you couldn't type anymore, they found someone else to do it?

Nowadays, every office worker has to be on the computer *all the time*. Typing isn't just a "Secretary, type this memo up" half-hour deal anymore. It's a 9-5 thing for everyone in the office. If you can't type anymore, you might lose your job.