The following blog post is the third in a series designed to provide some basic background information on carpal tunnel syndrome, a serious repetitive stress injury that afflicts millions of workers throughout the United States each year.

(Please see "A Closer Look at Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - I" and "A Closer Look at Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - II"  for more background information.)

What are some of the risk factors of carpal tunnel syndrome?

As previously mentioned, carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by pressure on the median nerve.

It is a commonly held belief among physicians that certain activities or physical characteristics (i.e., risk factors) may make a person more likely to develop carpal tunnel syndrome.

Some of these risk factors include:

• Constant performance of awkward or stressful motions: If you job necessitates the regular use of your hands/wrists in a physically awkward or overtly physical manner, you may be at a greater risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome. This includes construction workers who regularly use drills, saws, jackhammers and other heavy machinery, as well as assembly line workers.

Please note, while many people associate repetitive keyboard use with carpal tunnel syndrome, there is actually little scientific evidence to definitively support this theory.

• Heredity: Your risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome may be slightly elevated if a close relative was previously diagnosed with the condition. In addition, your wrist might simply be structured in a manner that predisposes you to developing the condition.

• Gender: According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, women are three times more likely than men to develop carpal tunnel syndrome.

• Ailments/Conditions: Certain physical ailments or conditions can increase the risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome, including pregnancy, diabetes, obesity or rheumatoid arthritis.

The following post was for informational purposes only and is not to be construed as legal or medical advice.

Stay tuned for further updates from our San Diego workers' compensation firm ...

Related Resources:
  
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (Mayo Clinic)