Hayam Mahmoud

Citation:

sawan, S., and P. D. Hayam M Sayed, "14- Wrist Position as a Risk Factor of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in Computer Users ", Kasr EL-Aini Medical Journal, vol. 13, issue 6, pp. 9-16, 2007.

Abstract:

Wrist Position as a Risk Factor of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in Computer Users
SALAH SAWAN Ph.D. PT and HAYAM MAHMOUD SAYED PT.D
Department of Neuromuscular Disorders and its Surgery, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University

Abstract
Background: the maintenance of an awkward posture for a prolonged period of time is a significant risk factor in the development of cumulative trauma disorders (as carpal tunnel syndrome), since it poses significant biomechanical stresses on the joints of the upper extremities and surrounding soft tissues Objective: this study was designed to identify the effect of wrist extension as a risk factor for the prevalence of carpal tunnel syndrome among computer users. Subjects: forty female subjects using computer at least six hours a day participated in this study and were divided into two groups of twenty; the normal group (GA) with a mean age of 33.75 (± 6.33) years and the patients' group (GB) with a mean age of 33.65 (± 6.45) years. The patients’ group was diagnosed as clinical carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Patients were suffering from pain, paraesthesias and/or hypoesthesias in the hand, in the area innervated by the median nerve. Methods: median nerve sensory and motor conduction studies (distal latencies and amplitude) were performed for both groups while the subject was lying supine with the shoulder abducted 45 degrees, the forearm fully supinated, and the wrist was in the neutral (zero) position. Then each subject was asked to fully extend the wrist joint and maintain this extended position for 10 minutes. The motor and sensory median nerve conduction studies were performed after these 10 minutes, and compared with that of the nerve conduction results at the neutral position. Results: the results of the study indicated that the extended wrist position significantly increases the distal latency of the motor and sensory median nerve conduction velocity for both normal and patients’ groups. Regarding the amplitude of the median nerve motor and sensory conduction studies, the normal group revealed no significant difference in the amplitude between the neutral and the extended position. On the contrary, patients’ group showed significant decrease of the amplitude of the median motor and sensory conduction at the extended wrist position compared to the neutral position. CONCLUSION: Prolonged and sustained wrist extension more than 6 hours per day is a major risk factor of CTS prevalence, especially in computer users.

Key words: Carpal Tunnel syndrome, wrist position , computer users, EMG ,and Nerve conduction study.