“What Research Actually Shows”

Science loves nuance, and carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is full of it. The question isn’t simply “Does

typing cause CTS?” but rather “Which specific wrist positions, forces, and durations raise tunnel

pressure enough to matter?”

Meta-analytic data by Shiri et al. (2015, Journal of the Neurological Sciences) concluded that

computer work may pose only a minor risk, with effect sizes so small most researchers consider them

clinically negligible. The authors noted that confounding factors—sex, body-mass index, thyroid

disease, and diabetes—contribute far more to CTS risk than typing frequency.

Laboratory biomechanics clarify why. Rempel, Keir, and Bach (2008, Journal of Orthopaedic

Research) measured in-tunnel pressures under different wrist postures. Static neutral positioning

maintained pressures near 8 mm Hg, while moderate wrist extension or radial deviation nearly

doubled that load. Add fingertip force and pressures spike beyond 30 mm Hg—the range associated

with symptomatic compression. Typical touch-typing involves light key force and mid-range motion,

producing far lower peaks than heavy gripping or flexed sleeping postures.

Even Andersen et al.’s prospective JAMA cohort detected no keyboard-related trend when controlling

for posture and repetition, suggesting that how you use the computer matters more than how long.