How Ergonomics Can Help Prevent Hand and Wrist Injuries

If you spend your day at a desk or on a device, and you’ve started noticing soreness or tingling in your wrists and fingers, you’re not imagining it. Discomfort that builds slowly through repetitive motion or awkward posture is often the early warning sign of something bigger: a preventable strain injury.

Fortunately, there’s a way to stop these injuries before they progress. The answer is ergonomics—the science of fitting your workspace to your body.

At Hands for Living, we work with individuals and organisations to reduce hand and wrist pain through simple, practical ergonomic strategies that make work more comfortable and sustainable.

Why Ergonomics Matters

Most workspaces are built for convenience—not for comfort. If your desk, chair, or devices don’t support your natural movement patterns, your body ends up adapting in ways that cause strain. Over time, this can lead to:

• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Tendonitis
• De Quervain’s tenosynovitis
• Repetitive strain injuries (RSIs)
• Muscle fatigue or joint stiffness

The good news? These outcomes are often avoidable with a few small adjustments.

What an Ergonomic Setup Looks Like

A healthy workspace is one where your joints are supported in neutral, natural positions. That includes:

• Wrists straight and relaxed, not bent up or down
• Elbows at your sides, forming a 90–110° angle
• Shoulders relaxed—not hunched or reaching
• Screen at or just below eye level
• Chair supporting your lower back, with feet flat on the floor

These may sound like small changes, but they reduce pressure on nerves, tendons, and joints—helping your body work smarter, not harder.

How We Help at Hands for Living

Our therapists start by evaluating your current workspace—whether it’s a desk, a clinic, a workbench, or even a mobile device. We look at how your equipment, posture, and habits are affecting your hands and wrists.

From there, we offer practical, personalised recommendations that may include:

• Adjusting desk or chair height
• Repositioning your keyboard or mouse
• Switching to ergonomic tools (e.g. split keyboard, vertical mouse)
• Using wrist supports or rest breaks to reduce load
• Training in healthy body mechanics and posture habits

You don’t need to invest in expensive equipment to make a big impact. Often, it’s about using what you have more effectively.

Working Comfortably Shouldn’t Be a Luxury

Pain isn’t just distracting—it reduces your productivity and drains your energy. By taking a proactive approach to ergonomics, you protect your health and make your workday more sustainable.

When your hands and wrists are supported properly, you can type, click, write, and move with ease—and without the constant worry of developing a repetitive injury.

Ergonomics Is Prevention in Action

At Hands for Living, we believe prevention is as important as treatment. If you’re starting to feel tension or discomfort in your hands or wrists, now is the time to act.

A few thoughtful changes today can help you avoid pain and downtime tomorrow—keeping you productive, healthy, and in control of your day.