Can Typing Too Much Cause Hand Problems?

When Your Hands Have Had Enough

For many of us, our hands spend a good part of the day tapping, clicking, scrolling, and typing. Most of the time we don’t think twice about it—until our fingers, hands, or wrists begin to hurt.

You may notice aching after a long day at the computer, tingling or numbness in your fingers, tenderness around the wrist, stiffness, or discomfort when gripping something.

But is all that typing actually causing the problem?

Repetition Can Take a Toll

Typing itself doesn’t automatically cause a hand or wrist injury. But repetitive activity, prolonged positioning, workstation ergonomics, and other factors may contribute to or aggravate certain problems.

Symptoms may be associated with conditions involving tendons, tendon sheaths, nerves, joints, or other soft tissues. Carpal tunnel syndrome, tendon irritation, trigger finger, and other conditions can sometimes produce symptoms that patients initially describe simply as “hand pain.”

That’s why persistent symptoms shouldn’t automatically be blamed on the keyboard.

What Can MSK Ultrasound See?

Musculoskeletal ultrasound can evaluate many of the accessible tendons, nerves, joints, and other soft tissues of the hand and wrist.

And because ultrasound provides real-time imaging, certain structures can be examined while the fingers, hand, or wrist move.

If bending a finger causes it to catch, moving the wrist produces pain, or a particular position brings on symptoms, dynamic imaging may provide useful information about what is happening during that movement.

MSK ultrasound is safe, noninvasive, and uses no radiation.

Before He Ever Picks Up the Probe

At the Center for Musculoskeletal Ultrasound, every examination begins before the ultrasound probe is ever picked up.

We start by listening. Which fingers hurt or tingle? Is there numbness? Does a finger catch or lock? Do your symptoms become worse after typing? Does changing the position of your wrist make them better or worse?

Michael Jablon, an expert in musculoskeletal ultrasound, begins with a focused history and a careful physical and positional examination, looking for the movements that reproduce your symptoms and the clues your body provides. This is referred to as the Jablon Protocol. Only then does he pick up the probe, using what he has learned to guide the ultrasound examination.

Don’t Just Blame the Keyboard

If your hand hurts after typing, taking a break or changing your workstation may help—but persistent pain, numbness, tingling, weakness, or catching deserves a closer look.

Finding out what is actually causing the symptoms can help determine the appropriate next step in your care.

Ready to Get Answers?

If hand or wrist symptoms aren’t going away, a focused MSK ultrasound evaluation may help identify what may be contributing to the problem.

Call the Center for Musculoskeletal Ultrasound at 949.229.7377 to schedule an evaluation.

Orthopedic Ultrasound Inc.