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Which Hand Motions Cause Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

From Dr. Z - Carpal tunnel syndrome specialist

Which Hand Motions Cause Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

If you have carpal tunnel syndrome, chances are it can be traced back to how you use your hands. The CDC says that certain finger & hand activities can cause carpal tunnel – especially when you’ve spent months or years performing that activity.


Other factors can contribute to getting carpal tunnel. Pregnancy, family history, and arthritis are chief among them. But the vast majority of people with carpal tunnel symptoms do not have these risk factors. Instead, they must look into how they use (or used) their hands and fingers. In other words, what motion or activity STRESSES your hands and fingers?


There are 6 common motions or activities which stress your hands and fingers. These are listed below. Keep in mind that an occasional stress will not necessarily be enough to cause carpal tunnel syndrome. You must factor in 2 other things:


  • How often you perform that stressful activity
  • How much force you apply when performing it


Think about these two factors when considering the 6 main stressing activities below that can cause carpal tunnel syndrome.

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Six main hand & finger stressing motions

Biomechanical research shows that there are 6 common ways to stress your hands and fingers. The stress is especially detrimental to your flexor tendons. Those are the tendons responsible for moving your fingers, curling them, and making a fist. They 6 stressful activities or motions are:


  1. Rapid and repetitive finger movements
  2. Prolonged pinching
  3. Maintaining a constant grip
  4. Repetitive grip-and-release 
  5. Maintaining a bent (extended) hand
  6. Using vibrating equipment

1. Rapid and repetitive finger movements

typing requires rapid and repetitive finger activity

It is widely reported that the increase in computer-based jobs has caused the incidence of carpal tunnel syndrome to explode. In other words, excessive keyboard typing seems to be the culprit. 


For many people, rapid and repetitive finger movements are bad enough. But when that's combined with poor sitting posture, the problem becomes magnified several fold. Jobs that commonly require these motions are not only limited to keyboard users:

  1. Piano and guitar playing
  2. Assembly line work
  3. Transcriptionist
  4. Musician (guitarist, pianist, harpist, flautist)
  5. Postal worker
  6. Radiologist
  7. Gamer
  8. Secretary/office clerk
  9. Computer programmers/graphic design
  10. Small pars sorter
  11. Card dealer/croupier
  12. Phone operator
  13. Pharmacist

2. Prolonged pinching

writing with a pen requires a pinching action

A pinching activity means bringing the thumb and forefinger together for extended periods of time. Examples are holding a pen, dental instrument or fine paint brush. 


Obviously, this targets the thumb and forefinger tendons. While seemingly harmless, this activity imparts significant stress on those tendons. 


Writers are not the only ones who experience prolonged pinching activity. In fact, prolonged pinching is common in many occupations including:

  1. Cashiers
  2. Bank tellers
  3. Dental hygienists
  4. Electrician
  5. Garment worker/sewer
  6. Assembler
  7. Fine artist
  8. Security system technician
  9. Plumber
  10. Nurse
  11. Waiter
  12. Butcher
  13. Postal worker

3. Maintaining a constant grip

hand gripping a hairbrush

Maintaining a grip constantly or for prolonged periods of time is extremely detrimental to the flexor tendons in your hand and fingers. Examples of this position are holding a hair brush, tennis racquet or wrench. 


A surprising number of otherwise unrelated occupations require this stressful hand activity. The jobs most commonly associated with maintaining a constant grip are:

  1. Hair stylist
  2. Construction worker
  3. Auto mechanic
  4. Shoveling
  5. Janitor
  6. Kayaker/Canoer
  7. Meat packer/butcher
  8. Professional cook
  9. Sonographer
  10. House painter
  11. Truck driver
  12. Locksmith
  13. Fisherman

4. Repetitive grip-and-release 

repetitive grip and release of garden scissors

Constantly gripping and then releasing your grip is perhaps the No. 1 most stressful activity you can apply to your hand and finger tendons. The reason is similar to the stretch-and-relax stressing of many materials. Think of how many times you can bend metal back and forth before it breaks.


An example of this motion is using garden or pruning scissors. Jobs that commonly require these motions for extended periods of time are:

  1. Auto mechanic
  2. Cashier
  3. Assembly line worker
  4. Golfer
  5. Homemaker
  6. Housekeeper/dishwasher
  7. Gardner
  8. Florist
  9. Waiter/Busser
  10. Plumber
  11. Mason
  12. Farmer/harvester
  13. Locksmith

5. Maintaining a bent (extended) hand

hand lifting a dumbbell

A bent hand is where your wrist is extended or held “backward” for prolonged periods of time. This is an unnatural position. It not only stresses your flexor tendons, but also exerts more pressure on your carpal tunnel space. This, in turn, produces more compression of your median nerve. And that results in carpal tunnel syndrome.


You don't have to be a weightlifter to experience this activity. Jobs and activities that usually require extended periods of this bent hand position are:

  1. Weight lifting
  2. Push-ups
  3. Drywall installation
  4. Massage therapist
  5. Ceiling tile repair
  6. HVAC technician
  7. Baker
  8. Motorcycle rider
  9. Furniture mover
  10. Bricklayer
  11. Farmworker
  12. Plumber
  13. Professional cook

6. Using vibrating equipment

hands using a vibrating grinder tool

Among all of the stressful hand and finger motions and activities listed above, using vibrating tools is the only one with a direct clinical correlation to median nerve damage. Additionally, you may acquire a condition related to carpal tunnel syndrome known as Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS). 


HAVS is also directly correlated to the use of vibrating hand tools, like grinders and drills. Unlike carpal tunnel syndrome, HAVS is not reversible. 


Jobs that pose a risk to workers due to vibrating tool use usually caution that gloves are required on the worksite. Such high risk jobs are:

  1. Construction worker
  2. Woodworker
  3. Road construction
  4. Flooring maintenance
  5. Jackhammer operator
  6. Tree cutter
  7. Cement/masonry cutter
  8. Carpenter
  9. Lawn maintenance
  10. Heavy equipment operator
  11. Asphalt installer
  12. Marine repair
  13. Motorcycle rider

Conclusion

The hand and finger motions that cause carpal tunnel syndrome are not mysterious. The six primary stressing activities are rapid and repetitive movements, prolonged pinching, maintaining a constant grip, repetitive grip-and-release, maintaining a bent or extended hand, and using vibrating equipment. Many jobs require one or more of these stressful activities. However, to prevent or minimize hand problems, certain interventions can help tremendously. Chief among them are avoiding or modifying the activity, wearing gloves, taking rest breaks, and doing stretching exercises.

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