Feeling pain as a result of repetitive motion? You’re not alone. In fact, many people develop a condi-tion known as carpal tunnel, which can be very painful. How does it happen? Usually it’s due to a nerve being regularly disturbed (ouch!) What are the symptoms of carpal tunnel? Well, they include pain, weakness, or numbness in the hand and wrist.

Obviously, this doesn’t sound pleasant but there are things you can do to prevent it from happening. One thing is to recognize tasks that require repetitive bending and �exing of the �ngers and wrists. This can happen when you’re using hand tools, like screwdrivers or paint brushes. Try distributing your grip across your muscle (from the base of the thumb to your pinkie �nger), rather than just using the center of the palm.

Also, gloves will lessen the shock when using vibrating tools such as chippers and hammers. You should also rest your hands periodically and minimize repetitive movement when possible.

Construction Ergonomics Toolbox Talk