Ask the Expert: Hand Video Series
About the video: Will typing at a computer for most of the day cause carpal tunnel?
Are you destined for carpal tunnel if you are typing all day? Hear from Summit Orthopedics’ hand specialists Edward Su, M.D. and LT Donovan, D.O. on what the most recent research has to say on the topic. It might just ease your fears.
Meet the Expert: Edward Su, M.D.
Dr. Su’s approach: “Driving, cooking, bathing, using tools, computers, and playing sports. We interact with the world largely through our hands, and I appreciate the importance of staying active and pain free.”
Dr. Su’s background: After completing his undergraduate studies at Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts, Dr. Su moved to New York, New York, where he earned his Medical Degree at the New York School of Medicine, and later completed his Orthopedic Surgery residency at the Hospital for Joint Diseases. He also completed fellowship training for Hand and Upper Extremities at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida.
Meet the Expert: LT Donovan, D.O.
Dr. Donovan’s approach: “My personal passions for baseball and cycling often give me unique insights about how to treat sports-related injuries.”
Dr. Donovan’s background: In Des Moines, Iowa, Dr. Donovan earned his undergraduate degree at the University of Iowa and his medical degree at the College of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery. Following his residency at the Dwight David Eisenhower Army Medical Center in Augusta, Georgia, he completed fellowship training at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C.
Summit Orthopedics provides personalized hand and wrist expertise
The function of our hands integrates through our wrists and arms to our shoulders; a problem anywhere along our arm may have a significant impact on hand function and quality of life. If you experience an injury or uncomfortable symptoms, our fellowship-trained hand and wrist surgeons are here to help. Summit physicians receive the highest levels of training and exclusively provide individualized care for conditions of the hand, wrist, and elbow.
Start your journey to better function and less pain. Find your hand expert, request an appointment online, or call us at (651) 968–5201 to schedule a consultation.
Summit has convenient locations across the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area, serving Minnesota and western Wisconsin. We have state-of-the-art centers for comprehensive orthopedic care in Eagan, MN, Vadnais Heights, MN, Plymouth, MN, and Woodbury, MN, as well as additional community clinics throughout the metro and southern Minnesota.
Additional resources for you
- Visit our Hand & Wrist Care section where you’ll find more articles on hand health, information about common hand conditions and treatments, our hand & wrist video library, and more.
- Why Do My Hands Get Numb When I Knit?
- Dr. Parisi Addresses Misinformation About Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Workplace Tricks To Ease Arthritic Joints
Video Transcription
A lot of patients will ask about keyboard use and computer use and carpal tunnel syndrome. Well, the reality is that carpal tunnel syndrome was around much longer, before computers were invented. It’s a very, very common condition. People of all ages get it – in their 20s and 30s and in their 80s and 90s. People get it who use computers; people get it who don’t use computers. People get it doing manual labor. People get it in their dominant hand and their nondominant hand. It really has to do largely with just the patient’s anatomy. You know, years ago, we always thought if you had a problem that developed at work or doing certain activities, that was probably the cause of it. But what we know nowadays is that typing or data input does not cause carpal tunnel. People can have numbness and tingling while they’re typing, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that it causes it.
