Hand and Wrist Pain? There's a Reason!
The hands are more fragile than you think. Did you know that 25% of the 206 bones in your body are in your hands? There's a great deal of potential for injuries to our hands—whether you're simply job hunting with your mouse or typing that white paper for your client.
And the things that we do with our hands—that don’t seem to stress them—usually cause the most stress.
Typing: Check Yourself...
...aside from checking typing errors, don't forget to check out your physical way of life at the keyboard.
Typing within itself does not cause harm to your hands but it’s the way you type that causes injury. The strain on the hands, forearms, and wrists can lead to pain later in life.
Discomfort and pain from typing can be caused by incorrect posture. Also, spending too much time at the keyboard without taking adequate breaks causes problems as well.
Another cause of discomfort or pain is not stroking the keys correctly. This can be avoided by having short nails to stroke keys correctly, removing large or heavy jewelry and stretching the muscles in the fingers, hands, and forearms.
If you're a remote writer, working from home, you might feel like you don't have this problem.
"Hey, I work in my pajamas", one may boast. However, this relaxed benefit may cause us to neglect our need to check out our work-from-home ergonomics.
So, let's be more mindful—no matter what our remote work life looks like.
Not keeping one’s hands in a neutral position can also cause pain. Many people have their wrists turned in or out rather than straight, creating the potential for a wrist injury. Ergonomic keyboards are helpful, but they are not a guarantee.
There are many causes to the contribution of wrist and hand pain during typing. Many of the issues that we have stemmed from improper position and equipment. If we take the time to identify the habits we have while typing, we can alleviate the pains and aches we have.
Here are some corrective ways to fix these hand pain issues:
To avoid slouching, sit in a tall, comfy chair with your feet flat on the floor;
Use an ergonomic keyboard that is tilted at a 90-degree angle.;
Avoid hard keystrokes;
Elevate your wrists instead of them resting on the desk or keyboard;
Perform hand stretches every 30 minutes.
And always remember to strengthen your muscles. Your hands are one of your greatest assets when it comes to working remote writing jobs.
(Consult with a medical professional before starting any exercises, especially if you have pre-existing medical conditions.)
Symptoms of Injury
If you begin to feel throbbing, cramping, weakness, stiffness or a dull, aching pain, you're likely injured. In some cases, the injury experienced may be Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. This is caused by damage to the nerves in the wrist and hand—and can happen to anyone (young or seasoned in age).
Once this occurs, healing takes a considerable amount of time.
Good news, remote writers! By recognizing the problem and responding to the pain ASAP, you can take effective measures to prevent more damage.
How you type, posture yourself, and the equipment you use matters a lot. Take the time to ensure you are doing everything you can to prevent injury to your wrists, hands, and forearms. Practice goods habits, stretch and take breaks. In the long run, your health will benefit from the precautions taken—and so will the longevity of your remote writing career.
If this post has benefited you or encouraged you to take better care of your remote work life and health, let us know. We look forward to hearing from you.
Tony Yashar is a Contributing Author for Remote Writers Work, demonstrating a targeted goal towards influencing the growth and success of new remote writers and fellow seasoned content developers.
Tony specializes in B2B processes, real estate, and athletics.
