It has been estimated that three percent of the population in the Unites States suffers from carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), the most common of repetitive stress injuries. The injury related to the overuse of wrist and hand muscles affects many industries, including assembly line workers, musicians and office workers.

Treatments for repetitive stress injuries (RSI) and carpal tunnel include medications, splints and resting of the hand and wrist. Surgery made the last resort made for serious CTS cases. However, there are some cases where the patient doesn’t see an immediate relief from these treatments and are compelled to find alternative CTS treatments to ease symptoms, such as numbness and tingling of the hands and fingers.

Carpal tunnel yoga is a new age treatment that is believed to relieve pain the wrist and increase the strength in the ailing hand. Yoga improves the body’s overall posture and endurance and there are a variety of different poses, such as chair twists, Downward Dog with chair and 90 degree forward bends to a wall, that provide relief. Some studies have even concluded that carpal tunnel yoga is more effective than wearing a splint on your wrist.

Because you will often feel shooting pains or experience swelling in your wrist and hand, carpal tunnel massage is another alternative treatment you may want to look into. Look into these various massage techniques to ease your wrist pain:

• Swedish massage uses tapping and kneading strokes to loosen joints and relieve muscle tension. The five basic strokes in Swedish massage are: tapping or beating strokes; vibration of the muscle; stroking; the grabbing and lifting of muscles; and friction using the thumbs and fingertips in deep circles.
• Neuromuscular massage is applied to individual muscles to increase blood flow, release pressure and reduce pain.
• Skull and spinal massage therapy uses extremely light pressure to the bones and membranes that surround these areas.

The Eastern influence has also led CTS sufferers to believe that acupuncture is another form of treatment. Research is still continuing to prove its success. A chiropractor can also realign your joints and bones in rehabilitating exercises, which include the twisting, pushing and pulling movements of the wrist and forearm.

Individuals with CTS can also look into carpal tunnel herbs and vitamins to promote a healthier lifestyle and improve their pain from within. Some people take vitamin B6 is a supplement that promotes protein metabolism, red blood cell metabolism and a healthy nervous and immune system. Originally used to treat depression, St. John’s wort helps to recuperate damaged nerves by reducing pain and swelling. Flaxseed oil is a fatty acid that can also reduce inflammation of the area. Lastly, turmeric contains anti-inflammatory chemicals to treat pain and has been widely compared to cortisone.

Depending on your own lifestyle, there is a treatment out there to suit anyone. If you’re not sure about which alternative treatment to pursue, speak with your health professional for their specialized guidance with your specific case.

Technologically savvy and ergonomic product lovers are switching to LCD computer screens to complete their ergonomic workstation to reduce eye strain and improve their overall environment. LCD, which stands for Liquid Crystal Display, used to be a luxury for homeowners and big corporations. Technology has improved and the prices for these specialized screens have come down so much that your average Joe can afford them.

The first type of computer monitor screen was made from CRT, which stands for Cathode Ray Tube. This screen is becoming less popular because their color imaging isn’t as superior as an LCD screen. However, CRTs are still useful for displaying images with high pixels per unit area and with the correct color balance. CRT monitor screens are also still popular with those working in the broadcasting and printing industries, as well as those working in professional graphics and photography fields because of their greater color contrast and better resolution for displaying moving images. Apart from these industries, the average consumer is not in the market for CRT screens because LCD screens offer better features.
One of the other reasons that consumers are staying away from CRT monitors are the health concerns and claims involved with this product. Some researchers have claimed that electromagnetic fields are emitted by these monitors, which can have a negative effect on one’s living cells. Researchers have also proved that CRTs can release a small amount of X-ray radiation, but is considered not harmful. Lastly, CRTs are considered to be toxic waste when discarded, operate under extremely high voltages, and implosion may occur if the outer glass envelope is damaged.

Ergonomic LCD screens in the workplace are beneficial to workers because it produces a clearer image and helps to avoid eye strain. The reduced glare on the computer screen’s monitor helps to deter any eye injuries or headaches. A CRT monitor redraws the image on the screen when it refreshes, but an ergonomic LCD monitor screen only changes the necessary pixels when it refreshes. Ergonomic monitor screens are also void of flicker because they don’t work with a scanning electron beam. Flicker on a computer screen also lead to eye strain and a decrease in visual performance.

Ergonomic LCD monitors are also much thinner and lighter when compared to a CRT screen so it can be easily mounted and won’t strain your back if you ever have to move the screen. LCDs are also becoming increasingly popular, outside of the ergonomic workstation industry, because it requires less power per display area. Officials have noted that the energy use with an LCD screen is nearly 60 percent less than a CRT screen. Research has also shown that LCDs allow for better posture while working on the computer. Because the screen cannot be clearly viewed from different side angles, the screen helps to force the user to align their body with the front plain of the screen.

Overall, an ergonomic LCD monitor is more beneficial to someone working in an office because of the improved technology and better visual features that promote healthy eyes and posture. Be your own critic and test both screens out, but you may find yourself upgrading to LCD monitors in the future.