Repititive Strain Injury and Carpal tunnel syndrome

Will touch typing help treat Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Repetitive Strain Injury

Hi there,

Yes, touch typing reduces your risk of developing RSI, or repetitive strain injury. Carpal tunnel syndrome and other stress-related injuries may need to be corrected by painful surgeries and expensive medication or injections. In addition, you’ll probably have to take time off work to get these problems fixed. If you can lower the risk of incurring these injuries in the first place, you won’t have to worry about spending more money on medical expenses, or losing more money by missing work days.

Best Regards,
Aidan Bernales
Community Moderator at Typesy

Hello, @brionykeller!
I saw your post and, as someone with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, had to respond!

I’m not convinced touch typing completely eliminates CTS, but I can say from personal experience that it definitely helps lessen the effects. I’m not sure this would count as “treating” the issue, but touch typing certainly alleviates it.

I suffer from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in my right wrist. When it flares up, due to over activity, typing can certainly become uncomfortable. Whenever I can start to feel a flare up coming on, I simply wear a wrist brace for a few days. A metal bar in the brace keeps my wrist in a neutral position. Giving my wrist a break from movement always seems to take care of the problem. I’ll sometimes wear the brace preemptively as well, if I know I will be moving my hands and arms a lot, like, if I know I’m in for a long day of typing.

I was initially a self-taught typist, and I know my lack of proper posture and hand positioning when typing added to the development of my CTS. Now knowing the touch typing technique, and having learned of the proper ways to hold my body, I find myself getting flare ups far less.

Hope that helps!
Regards,
Alex (The Reimagined Classroom Teacher)