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Lifestyle Changes to Manage Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Lifestyle changes may help to ease some symptoms.

General Guidelines

  Change Sleeping Position

Sleep with wrists cocked upward or in a neutral position instead of bent downward. This will ease pressure in the carpal tunnel. Carpal tunnel splint braces can be found in the pharmacy. They can position wrists the correct way for sleep.

  Limit Repetitive Motions

Avoid or limit doing repetitive motions with the wrists and hands, when possible. This may include changes at work, such as an ergonomic check of the worksite to ease pressure on the wrists.

  Check the Tools Used at Work

Avoid or limit using tools that vibrate, such as jackhammers and floor sanders. There may be other tools or safety steps that can be used.

REFERENCES:

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS). Clinical Practice Guideline on the Treatment of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. AAOS 2016 Feb.

Carpal tunnel syndrome. American Society for Surgery of the Hand website. Available at: https://handcare.assh.org/Anatomy/Details-Page/ArticleID/27950/Carpal-Tunnel-Syndrome. Published 2015. Accessed November 20, 2019.

Carpal tunnel syndrome. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:https://www.dynamed.com/condition/carpal-tunnel-syndrome. Updated June 24, 2019. Accessed November 20, 2019.

Carpal tunnel syndrome fact sheet. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke website. Available at: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/carpal_tunnel/detail_carpal_tunnel.htm. Updated August 13, 2019. Accessed November 20, 2019.

Last reviewed September 2019 by EBSCO Medical Review Board James P. Cornell, MD