Hand & Wrist

Staying healthy and “off profile” is key for optimal military performance. Injury prevention should be as much a part of your workout routine as the workout itself. Take time for some simple preventive exercises now, and you can save yourself a lot of trouble and pain down the road. Read our tactics for preventing common sports and military injuries.

If you’ve been experiencing pain, burning, numbness, or tingling in one or both of your hands, you might be experiencing symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. This “tunnel” in the wrist carries the important tendons and nerves that supply your hands with motor and sensory functions, allowing your hands to move and feel. Swelling inside the carpal tunnel can squeeze the median nerve that passes through it, causing discomfort. According to the Defense Medical Epidemiology Database, in the military, women are more likely than men to develop this condition. It’s also more likely to develop with age and rank. There are surgical and non-surgical treatments for carpal tunnel syndrome, but as the saying goes, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” The University of Maryland Medical Center has advice, which includes:

➔ Do exercises to keep your muscles and tendon flexible. (See the UMMC link above for detailed instructions.)

➔ When performing repetitive activities with your wrists and hands, take frequent breaks, even if it’s just for a minute or two at a time—called “microbreaks.”

➔ Use correct posture and technique, especially wrist position when using a keyboard or hand tools.

Make sure that your work area is ergonomically sound. Military-specific information is available from both the Army Public Health Command and the Naval Postgraduate School.