When mobile phones first arrived on the market they weighed several kilograms and with some models you had to carry around a battery the size of a briefcase. As they have become smaller and more integral to our lives a range of new dangers has come to light. While some people are so engrossed in their phones that they walk into things and others spend so much time looking at the screen that they develop a sore neck, another danger that has arisen as a result of their prolonged and frequent use is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is caused by compression of the median nerve; the nerve that controls some hand function. This can cause pain or numbness in the hand and wrist and can make it difficult for people to pick up small items or carry out tasks involving fine motor skills.
A study published in the journal ‘Muscle and Nerve’ found that there has been a large increase in the numbers of young people complaining of hand and wrist pain, and in many cases this can be attributed to their heavy use of mobile phones.
One study looked at 48 students who used their phones, tablets and games consoles for more than five hours per day and compared them with less frequent users. The results showed that 92 per cent of the heavy users had suffered from hand or wrist pain whereas only around a quarter of the less frequent users had any ill effect.
How to avoid the pain
The best way to avoid the risk of developing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is to ensure you take regular breaks from any activity that could instigate the condition, as well as performing stretching exercises. If your job involves the use of vibrating equipment or repetitive tasks, you should speak to your employer about the best ways to reduce the risk of developing any kind of repetitive strain injury; it is in their best interests also, and they have a duty to ensure the risk of any injury is reduced.
If you suffer from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and you believe that it was due to your employment, you could be entitled to make a claim for compensation. Contact one of our highly experienced solicitors today, free of charge, and let’s discuss how we can help you get the payout you deserve.
If you or a member of your family feel that you have developed Carpal Tunnel Syndrome as a result of your work environment and would like to speak to us about your options, please call us on 0800 122 3130 free of charge, request a free no-obligation call back, or start your claim now by filling in the claim form.
